The Royal Opera House is offering a fun week of family workshops over the Easter school holidays centred around its new family dance piece The Red Balloon.
Sounding Out For Families, now an annual event, runs this year from 14 to 17 April and kicks off with a free Family Open Day (14 April, 12:00-16:00) where participants can get involved in the music, dance, design and production departments of the Royal Opera House.
Workshops during the week include: Compose Yourself, where children can join a composer and professional musician to explore the instruments and sounds used in The Red Balloon; Design Express, a session of puppet-making; a practical drama workshop exploring the characters and story of The Red Balloon; dance workshop Flying High; and Pulling Strings, in which participants can learn how to be a puppeteer.
The week ends on 17 April with Music In The Round, an interactive performance by the musicians and cast of The Red Balloon which takes visitors on a journey through the Parisian streets featured in the production.
Events, which are suitable for children aged six and over, cost £3 for children and £5 for adults and can be booked on 020 7304 4000. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Red Balloon plays in the Linbury Studio from 9 to 18 April. Based on Albert Lamorisse’s film and the children’s story of the same name, the show follows a young boy in 1950s Paris who discovers a red balloon that seems to lead him and even befriend him. Everyday life – at home and at school – follows an unexpected course with this new red companion, but it is the reactions of others that finally bring about the tale’s poignant conclusion.
This new dance production features choreography by Aletta Collins, who has previously worked on hit shows His Dark Materials and Honk!
CB