Playground Opera is part of our ongoing programme to make great opera accessible to a younger audience, fully immersing them into the plots and music with participation and preparation. In 2023 we will be touring a specially adapted performance of Bizet’s famous opera, Carmen, into local schools during the summer term.
Overview
Based on Bizet's famous opera, Carmen, this specially adapted performance for primary school children is full of rollicking good tunes you'll all recognise, characters you'll never forget and a plot with more twists than a curly wurly.
Yes, the story is dark, (of course.. it's opera) but we will incorporate humour and wisdom as well as a few gory moments to satisfy a child's desire for the macabre.
The plot
Don José is a troubled man. His life has been ruined by the pretty awful choices he has made. People he cared for are no more, his career is over and he is languishing in a dark prison cell with little hope of release. He tells us the story of his life, his love and his jealousy and wonders what might have been if he'd made different decisions...
Learning, creating and performing
The Longborough Education Team (directors, musicians, singers and actors) will spend a full day at your school, unpacking the issues of the story, getting the children to consider their own choices and rewrite the narrative. Your pupils will learn the Children's Chorus as well as the Toreador's Chorus from Carmen and will participate with the professional opera singers in the final show, performed to your school.
Teaching resources
Timings
Running time of show is approx. 45 mins.
The workshop will take all morning and we'd stage and rehearse after lunch, ready for a performance at the end of the day to as many of your pupils and staff (and parents) as you can fit in.
What we need from you
- Around 30 pupils, ideally yr 5 upwards for the full day.
- Workshop space for the morning.
- Performance space, straight after lunch. This could be the same space as the morning session. We bring in set and costumes in the afternoon.
- An audience
Creative team:
Director Maria Jagusz
Designer Harry Pizzey
Associate Director Polly Graham
Music Director/Co-writer Jessica May
Cast:
Don José Harry Apps
Carmen Alice Nelson
Escamillo Matthew Siveter
Covers:
Carmen and workshop leader Liv Brereton
Don José Philip Clieve
Escamillo George Robarts
Music:
Violin Anja Milivojević
Clarinet Stuart King
Accordion Milos Milivojevic
Keyboard Jessica May
Stage Managers Aaron Bixley, Sarah Plowright, Jude Bixley Plowright
Props and Costumes Denise Cleal
