Ahead of the completion of the Royal Opera House’s three year ‘Open Up’ renovation project, the famous venue has announced a new events programme which goes on sale today. The new additions Ballet Dots, Opera Dots, Books at Brunch and Crafternoons will lift the lid on the artistry of the Royal Opera House and enable everyone – young and old – to feel something new. These newly designed programmes will run alongside free Live at Lunch drop in performances, Recitals at Lunch, Dance with The Royal Ballet and Come and Sing at The Royal Opera House.
For the first time, Ballet Dots and Opera Dots (£10 for one child and £5 for a subsequent child) will help children under five discover ballet and opera through sensory dance, singing, music and stories.
Books at Brunch (£12 pp) will feature talks from authors, broadcasters, publishers and artists from across the worlds of opera and ballet to encourage literary discussions within the intimate confines of the Linbury Theatre Foyer. Crafternoons (£12 pp) will allow audiences to try their hand at some of the techniques used to bring the ballet and opera performances to life, working with talented craftspeople from the Royal Opera House. Crafternoons will be ticketed drop-in sessions from 2 - 5pm and Books at Brunch will run for one hour, from 10.30 - 11.30am, both on selected dates. Fifty per cent of tickets for these programmes are available to students, with the rest on sale to general public.
Budding singers of all ages and ability will be able to join in and sing with an opera chorus during the Come and Sing at The Royal Opera House (£10 pp) sessions. Keen dancers can learn dance steps inspired by the ballets performed at the Royal Opera House, led by a member of The Royal Ballet Company during the Dance with the Royal Ballet (£10 pp) workshops.
The Live at Lunch events are free, drop-in performances featuring artists from The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet as well as guest artists in the relaxed environment of the newly opened-up foyer. These will be inspired by the heritage and repertoire of The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet, featuring new and commissioned works.
Recitals at Lunch (£10 or £12 pp) will feature a ticketed programme of music in the Royal Opera House Crush Room, featuring artists from The Royal Opera, Orchestra of The Royal Opera House, Jette Parker Young Artists and a range of guest artists.
Jillian Barker, Director of Learning and Participation at The Royal Opera House said
“These new events will turn the Royal Opera House into an intimate home allowing audiences to share in the creative journey each performance goes on before it reaches the stage. The events programme provides a taste of the many different aspects of the Royal Opera House, from the mastery of backstage theatre craft to guest artist performances, inviting families, students and the culturally curious to immerse themselves in creating their own Royal Opera House story and feel something new.”
All programmes will take place at the Royal Opera House, which will be open to everyone, every day from 10am. The new bars, cafés, restaurants and displays will make the Royal Opera House London’s newest daytime destination.
Further details of the Royal Opera House Front of House programme including the Months of Sundays events Festival, Tea Dances, Family Sundays and tours will be available as part of the Open Up press announcement in September 2018.
For further information and to buy tickets for Ballet Dots, Opera Dots, Come and Sing at the Royal Opera House, Dance with The Royal Ballet, Recitals at Lunch, Books at Brunch and Crafternoons or to find out more about the free Live at Lunch session visit: roh.org.uk/recitals and www.roh.org.uk/workshops
Ballet Dots costs £10 for one child, £5 for a subsequent child and will take place in the Paul Hamlyn Hall at the below times and dates. Children must wear loose clothing and be accompanied by an adult (maximum one adult, two children).
Monday 1 October and Monday 29 October
10.30 to 11.15am– 3-12 months
11.30am to 12.15pm –– 12 months to 2.5 years
12.30 to 1.15pm –– 2.5 – 5 years
Opera Dots costs £10 for one child, £5 for a subsequent child and will take place in the Paul Hamlyn Hall at the below times and dates. Children must be accompanied by an adult (maximum one adult, two children).
Monday 15 October
10.30 to 11.15am– 3-12 months
11.30am to 12.15pm –– 12 months – 2.5 years
12.30 to 1.15pm –– 2.5 – 5 years
Come and Sing at the Royal Opera House costs £10 per person and will take place from 2.15 - 3.30pm in the Paul Hamlyn Hall on Friday 28 September and Friday 12 October. Suitable for 14 years and over.
Dance with The Royal Ballet costs £10 per person and will take place in either the Paul Hamlyn Hall or the Linbury Theatre Foyer on from 2.15
- 3.30pm on Friday 21 September, Friday 5 and Friday 26 October. Suitable for 14 years and over. No dance experience is required.
Live at Lunch is free to drop by (no ticket required) in the Linbury Theatre Foyer or Paul Hamlyn Hall from 1 - 2pm on Fridays 21 and 28 September and Friday 5 and 12 October. Suitable for all ages.
Recitals at Lunch cost between £10 – £12 pp and are in The Crush Room at The Royal Opera House between 1 - 1.45pm on Monday 24 September and Mondays 15 and 29 October. Recommended 14 years and over.
Books at Brunch takes place on Saturday 27 October between 10.30 - 11.30am in the Linbury Theatre Foyer and cost £12 pp including tea, coffee and a pastry. Suitable for 16 years and over.
Crafternoons will take place between 2pm and 5pm in the Linbury Theatre Foyer at The Royal Opera House and cost £12 pp on Saturday 20 and 27 October. Suitable for 16 years and over.
