While children are the future audience for opera, we view ‘outreach’ as something broader than just working with the young. Our outreach work goes hand-in-hand with innovative programming in challenging preconceptions and removing barriers to participation.

Opera Theatre Company’s Outreach & Education programme has the triple aim of de-mystifying opera, presenting a unique insight into the art form, and creative engagement with people of all ages and backgrounds.

We create specific, on-location programmes for Primary & Secondary Schools, Youth & Community Groups and Choral & Music Societies. We seek always to promote a genuine two-way exchange of talent, expertise and skills between professional creative and performing artists and professional teachers, educationalists and group leaders.

We work to extend the experience of our existing opera audience through in-venue events.

We do this in two main ways:

1. We develop a quality programme to complement each touring work of the company, including, as appropriate:

   Introduction to Opera:

   Everything you always wanted to know about opera but were too afraid to ask!

   Participants meet opera singers and directors who guide them through the themes and narrative of a show, introduce the popular arias and explain some of the practicalities of how the production is staged.

   Where possible, this workshop includes attending the show, with tickets provided at a reduced rate.

   Masterclasses:

   Choral groups of any and all ages receive the opportunity to work with opera professionals.

   In-venue:

   Pre- and/or post-show discussions with members of the cast and creative team.

2. We produce pieces with particular appeal for younger audiences, where the group engaging with the production can choose their own appropriate level of participation, whether as audience to a professional production or, perhaps, as an audience that has learned particular songs/refrains to allow interaction with the cast onstage or, indeed, as performers in the production, working in conjunction with a professional cast and creative team and presenting the piece to an external audience.

Outreach Investment

Opera Theatre Company’s outreach & education programme invests in the training and development of arts facilitators, animateurs, dramatists, musicians and teachers.

For more information contact Adam.

"I just want to let you know, on behalf of myself, the kids, the principal and the parents, how grateful we all are for opening up the students’ minds to a whole new world! The singers were fantastic and they were so chatty to the kids, answering questions and making the whole thing normal and not far-removed, which a stage production sometimes can be. There was great excitement about the trip to see The Barber of Seville. Thanks again for
making me the coolest teacher in the school!!!"

Joanne O'Regan Teacher – Deansrath Community College, Dublin

For an insight into our recent/past work and news of our current and forthcoming events, click here.