What We Do
FACTS AND FIGURES
The Royal Opera House has charitable status and is a national institution seeking to involve and engage with as many people as possible.
Just a few of the ways we do this are via our extensive range of programmes and events for young people, our commitment to keeping ticket prices down, and through directing most of our resources to front-line performance, education and outreach.
In our 2008/09 season:
• In the main auditorium we attracted total audiences of more than 630,000.
• Main stage audiences were 93% of capacity.
• Generated more than £2 for ever £1 of public subsidy.
• Ninth successive year of positive cash balance.
• Almost 40,000 visitors to the Newham Town Show in July were treated to an original opera in partnership with ROH Education.
• Our work was seen across the country on 18 screens via BP Summer Big Screen and BBC presentations, giving almost 25,000 people the chance to experience it.
TESTIMONIES
The activities of the Royal Opera House have a hugely positive impact on many people. Here are comments from just three of them:
"I thought opera was something for people in higher circles. But when I got there and saw how friendly and helpful the staff were, and how inspiring the place is, I was totally shocked. I had no idea what to expect. I went to the Hamlyn Performance of Eugene Onegin and was just blown away. To experience something in a different language and completely understand it was incredible. “
Claudius Francis, resident of The Nehemiah Project, remembering his first ROH performance.
Nehemiah is a charity established to help people overcome life-controlling issues, to fulfil their potential in life.
"Black and Asian faces are virtually absent from ballet. Ballet Black was set up to address this by providing coaching, role models, and performances. When the ROH offered us ongoing rehearsal and training space, we thought we'd be in a dank, basement studio. When we got here we were just awed by the facilities. "It's the most incredible place to be and it lifts all of us. By performing in The Linbury we demonstrate our capabilities, raise our profile and make ourselves as accessible as possible, which is what we're all about."
Cassa Pancho, Director, Ballet Black, discussing ethnic diversity in dance.
Ballet Black is the UK's only neo-classical ballet company for dancers of black and Asian descent.