Thurrock Schools' Tours
Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop – Tours for Schools and Colleges
The Royal Opera House is known for its stunning sets and scenery. Discover just what goes into creating these world-famous productions on a tour of the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop. The Royal Opera House Education team in Thurrock offers specially devised tours of the workshop tailored for schools and colleges, giving an exclusive insight into the world of artists and craftsmen working behind-the-scenes.
Tours
You can choose from a selection of tours, ranging from a short tour of the building to a choice of practical workshops that will teach your students new skills and inspire them to learn about career opportunities in the creative arts.
The tours are suitable for primary and secondary school children, as well as students in further and higher education. We recommend children to be over eight years old.
We are happy to discuss organising a package of workshops, talks and tours to suit curriculum needs for theatre and drama students, offering an in-depth insight into creative work and careers at the Royal Opera House open to young people.
From November 9th onwards, tours will take place every Friday during term time. Tours are bookable between now and July 2013.
A tour of the Production Workshop will include:
Exploring the building (30 minutes)
Discover exactly what happens in each of the workshops. Led by an experienced tour guide, you will visit the scenic paint shop, the build area and the carpentry workshop to see first-hand how sets and scenery are constructed. You will also visit the viewing galleries and meet apprentices and Head Scenic Artists, getting a fascinating insight into the skills necessary to create world class sets and scenery.
Note: At busy times, access to certain areas may be restricted.
Virtual experience (One hour)
The virtual tour workshop is a 3D interactive resource designed to give students a greater understanding of the processes behind set construction and its delivery from Thurrock to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. It engages students in digital games that include lighting the stage, creating sets and designing a model box – all at the click of a button.
Hands-on experience (One hour 30 minutes)
What is a model box? How do you design lighting to create a certain mood? What do you need to consider when making props?
Discover the answers to these and many other questions in one of our practical workshops about theatre design. They have been specially devised to offer students a greater insight into the skills and expertise of our craftspeople.
A tour will also include one of the following:
The Model Box
The students work with a designer to discover why model boxes are created for Royal Opera House productions, and have the chance to design and create one themselves.
Costume Design and Making
Students work with a professional costume maker to find out how to represent a character through costume, and how the costumes differ from everyday clothing.
Making Props
Students find out just what goes into making production props, learning about the skills behind the making of fake food, monsters heads and ancient looking furniture. They then have a go at making some themselves.
If you have any queries, would like further information or wish to book a tour, please contact the Royal Opera House Education team in Thurrock on +44 (0)1708 891200 or email getinvolved@roh.org.uk.
Note: The Royal Opera House also runs public tours of the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop.
