Do-it-yourself: write your own opera

Would you ever consider writing your own opera? It may seem a daunting task but every year hundreds of young people write their very own operas from scratch as part of The Royal Opera House Write an Opera programme. Our Write an Opera course trains teachers how to get the process started. It’s been running for 26 years with participants from across the UK and abroad.

This year’s teachers course runs from 13-20 August at Dartington Hall in Devon (part of the Dartington International Summer School). The intensive week of workshops is led by a team of professionals – including a composer, director, designer, singer, and lighting expert.

Amazingly, the teachers will probably all have written their own opera by the end of the week. The course equips them with all the know-how. They’re  coached in how to write music and lyrics, design sets,  costume and lighting. At the end of the week, they’re ready to perform the new work to a small audience.

I now have a really clear understanding of the process of creating an opera with a large group of children in an incredibly enjoyable way and have a set of skills I can start using immediately

(Claire Lee, Fairford CE Primary School, Gloucestershire)

Teachers on the course come from a wide range of primary, secondary and special schools and colleges. Many have little or no experience of the creative arts, or may have worries or inhibitions about their skill levels, but they all leave ready to start writing an opera with their students in the year ahead!

I have been challenged, encouraged and most of all, inspired

(Amy Neill, Benyon Primary School, Essex)

Are you inspired? This year’s course is now full, but if you want to consider attending next year do look out for more posts in the coming weeks about this year’s Write an Opera course.

For more information visit the teachers section of the website.