Sounding Out for Families

27th May 2008 until 31st May 2008
Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Bow Street, Covent Garden, Westminster, London, WC2E 9DD
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7304 4000
This Summer half term the Royal Opera House are offering the chance to take a journey through music and history as one way of celebrating its 150th anniversary. The Royal Opera House invites families to have a go at creating their own musical and you can try out playing a musical instrument, see and hear members of the orchestra or take a very special "Ghost Tour" to learn al about the theatre's history. Best of all, many of the events taking place are free of charge and include all of the day's events from 12 noon to 4pm.

Particular events taking place are as follows:

EVENTS:
Tuesday 27th May
Family Open Day (Free)
12:00 - 16:00, Paul Hamlyn Hall
If you fancy playing a musical instrument in one of the world's premier opera venues or would enjoy joining demonstration sessions with staff from the production department and have a go at creating your own designs from a major production, this is for you. Later, take the "Ghost Tour" through the centuries to learn how this impressive building became what it is today.

Wednesday 28th May
Let's Create
10:30 - 15:00, Crush Room
Would you like to learn how a piece of text - a book or something simpler still - can be interpreted through music and then take part in a challenge to create and perform two original pieces of your very own?

Thursday 29th May
Compose Yourself
10:30 - 12:30, Crush Room
You can join a composer and a professional musician on a morning of musical imagination and creativity. If you bring along any everyday object, learn how that can make a sound and become a part of an unusual band. Other instruments will be provided.

Design Express
12:15 - 13:45 & 14:15 - 15:45, Paul Hamlyn Hall
You will enjoy a creative session of drawing, painting, cutting and sticking together a design that is entirely yours. This session is available to enter and leave at anytime within your allocated slot.

'Ghost' Tours
13:00 - 13:40 & 14:30 - 15:10, Main Foyer
Hw much do you know about the Royal Opera House? When was it built and who designed it ? What was it like and how did the staging and other details work 150 years ago? How do these things work in the modern theatre?

Tell a Tale
14:00 - 15:30, Crush Room
Not just a story-telling but a fully interactive and creative session for all of the family.

Friday 30th May
Creating a Chorus
10:30 - 12:30, Crush Room
Find out how you could devise and create sound through music, songs, dance and games. Afterwards, you will get the chance to work alongside a composer and a professional singer to create your very own chorus.

Mask Making
11:00 - 12:30 & 14:00 - 15:30, Paul Hamlyn Hall
Have you ever wondered just how the elaborate masks used in opera and other theatres are made? You will get the chance to work with a professional designer, to choose your own materials and to create your very own monster mask. And, Yes, you can take it home with you.

Picture This
13:30 - 16:00, Crush Room
Not the group but a chance to create your very own story in music and design. First design a story and then add a musical accompaniment.

Saturday 31st May
14:00 - 16:00, Royal Opera House
Music on the Move - a Promenade Performance (£10 - Adults, £5 - Children)
Explore the Royal Opera House on a musical journey. You will see and hear members of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera and dancers of The Royal Ballet, who also have their home here. This is not just something to watch but an interactive ds-play of classical opera and ballet along with pop and a newly commissioned piece by Orlando Gough. Some of the pieces played will include narration and live illustration by the artist James Mayhew.

Visiting Sounding Out for Families:

Cost: Various. Free (Family Open Day 27 May), Workshops: £5 (Adults), £3 (Children Under 16)
Time: Various. Wed 28 May 10:30 to Sat 31 May 14:00
Age Restrictions:

Nearest Underground Stations:
Covent Garden Tube (1 minutes)
Leicester Square Tube (6 minutes)

For more information on Sounding Out for Families, please visit: www.soundfamilies.org

Forthcoming May Events in London

Republic of Ireland vs Colombia - 29th May '08

Boyzone - 30th to 31st May '08