More than one million visitors have passed through the doors of the Royal Opera House in the 12 months following its three-year renovation. With visitors enjoying a diverse range of day time events and activities that go behind the scenes of ballet, opera and theatre craft, people are voting with their feet and experiencing something for everyone.
Ballet Dots, 1 October 2018 (c) ROH, 2018. Photographed by James Bellorini, Family Sunday Mad Hatters and Masked Balls 27 January 2019 (c) ROH, 2018. Photograph by Laura Aziz, ROH Late, (c) ROH, 2019. Photography by Elliot Franks
From September 2019 to July 2020 more than 176 new daytime, events activities and festivals will be available for people of all ages at the Royal Opera House. Visitors can feel something new at any of the 38 free, drop-in live at lunch performances, 30 Opera Dots and Ballet Dots classes for children aged 3 months to 5 years, 11 fantastic Family Sundays, Dots Day, 3 ROH Lates, 30 Opera and Ballet workshops for adults, 40 ticketed Recitals, 7 Tea Dances, 10 Crafternoons and 6 Ballet Studio Live events. These events are free, or subsidised and take place in the vibrant setting of the Royal Opera House in the heart of London’s Covent Garden.
Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House said: “We are delighted to showcase the artistry, craft and dedication that underpins every one of our performances at the ROH through a year-round programme of tours, events, festivals and free exhibitions. More than one million people visited the Royal Opera House last year, and we look forward to welcoming many more over the year ahead with inspiring insights into the extraordinary worlds of ballet, opera and theatrecraft.”
ROH Family Sundays return for families to enjoy after a sold-out inaugural year last season. Starting on Sunday 29 September these jam-packed festival days received five-star reviews from the thousands of young people who attended. Nine-year-old Poppy from Brighton said: “Every activity was brilliant, I loved creating our own props and trying on the costumes. Mask making was really good fun too and having our own private ballet class was brilliant. I am bringing all my friends next time.”
Little ones aged three months to five years can also take their first opera and ballet steps in specially curated Ballet Dots and Opera Dots workshops and a full day of ‘dots’ fun is hosted at ROH on 22 February at Dots Day.
Visitors can enjoy the free drop-in Live at Lunch performances, which take place on Fridays or Sundays at 1pm. These popular performances feature a selection of professional musicians, opera singers and dancers from The Royal Ballet with guest artists and companies also presenting new work. These include choreographer Charlotte Edmonds and dance company Acosta Danza. ‘Recitals at Lunch’ take place in the Crush Room and feature leading operatic talent and the Jette Parker Young Artists.
Aspiring dancers and opera singers, whether beginners or seasoned regulars can brush up their skills in the Dance with the Royal Ballet and Sing at the Royal Opera House workshops. Get the best seat in the house and go behind the scenes to watch the professionals in action during Ballet Studio Live as they take part in rehearsals and morning class.
