'Magic of opera' brought to thousands of children across the Cotswolds

Since 2021, Playground Opera has reached more than 5,000 schoolchildren across the Cotswolds

Thousands of children, many in areas of rural or economic deprivation, are to experience their first taste of opera.

The Playground Opera learning project, run by Longborough Festival Opera, will be taken into primary schools in the Cotswolds throughout the summer.

It makes opera more accessible by involving pupils in unpacking the themes and rewriting the plot.

Pupils then join in with the professional opera singers in a final show performed at each school.

Pupils are invited to rewrite the story of the opera and take part alongside professional actors in a final performance at school

For 2024, Longborough has created a family-friendly production of Donizetti's The Elixir of Love, entitled The Implausible Potions of Dr Dulcamara.

Love, longing, lies and gossip, plus some magic potions and a lot of confusion make this story a brilliant one for children, Longborough said.

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Lucas, 7, said of the experience: "It brought a whole new world to me."

Playground Opera brings an abridged version of classic opera stories into schools across the Cotswolds

"Please, please keep doing what you are doing," said a teacher from St Gregory's the Great in Cheltenham. "It is vital these children widen their horizons and experiences of the world."

"The opportunity to engage in high-quality artistic experiences can give students a huge boost in confidence and self worth and helps to promote creativity, teamwork, and communication," said Jessica May, Longborough's Head of Learning and Participation.

"Our approach creates a fun and liberating environment in which children are encouraged to explore and comprehend the way they are expressing themselves."

Longborough will also present a public performance of its Playground Opera in Chipping Camden on 14 June.