Royal Opera House launches a new game: The Show Must Go On

The Royal Opera has launched The Show Must Go On, a new game for iOS devices (iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch).

Ever wondered what it takes to create one of the magical stage performances at the Royal Opera House? The Show Must Go On puts the player in the shoes of an intrepid stage manager who has to cope with a string of back stage disasters.

Developed in conjunction with Hide and Seek, the app features a number of mini games relating to Royal Ballet and Royal Opera productions of The Marriage of Figaro, Carmen, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. In the course of five mini-games the player has to manage lighting, props, set building, dressing the chorus and race against time to gather lost sheet music.

At the launch event, Chief Executive Tony Hall said, “The Holy Grail is something commercially viable that can reach lots of people. We hope that this game will excite people who don’t know about opera and ballet”.

The Show Must Go On is available from the iTunes store priced 69p for the first week.

The app follows the development of a free ticketing app produced in conjunction with Cloudtix.

As well as sound effects recorded on location at the Royal Opera House, the game boasts a soundtrack of world-class recordings from EMI Classics. These include performances from artists including Sir Simon Rattle, Herbert von Karajan and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

Download the Soundtrack album on iTunes

The Show Must Go On website

Have you played The Show Must Go On? What do you think?

This article has had 8 responses

1. Paul Spear responded on 11 November 2011 at 11:41am

   Amazing – how fun!
2. Claire responded on 11 November 2011 at 3:09pm

   Any plans to release it for Android too?
   • Royal Opera House responded on 14 November 2011 at 11:17am

     Hi Claire, There are plans to release an Android version in the near future
3. Maureen Walsh responded on 11 November 2011 at 4:27pm

   What a wonderful app. Love it. This is keeping me amused and busy and out of mischief.
4. P S Allen responded on 12 November 2011 at 3:26pm

   looks great idea – fun way of playing with these tasks! good intro. for kids too! our 2 sons will enjoy this!
5. Nigel Charman responded on 14 November 2011 at 12:01pm

   Seems to have disappeared from App Store. Any news on what’s happening?
   • Royal Opera House responded on 14 November 2011 at 4:38pm

     Apologies, there was a technical issue which temporarily affected the game’s appearance in the App Store. The game is available now from http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-show-must-go-on/id465068740
6. Kate Moores responded on 20 December 2011 at 10:52pm

   Eek, excited to hear this may come out on Android too!

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