Pupils - Music

OPERA WITH THE ENGLISH POCKET OPERA COMPANY

CARMEN

Athelney was one of the Sage schools that signed up to work with the English Pocket Opera Company in 2003. This involved an introductory 'Opera Hotpot' at the school, followed by artists working with the children on creating a performance piece. The exciting climax to all this hard work was a day at the Cochrane Theatre, to perform their own piece and enjoy the matinee of Carmen. Those pupils at Athelney who were involved in the project had the following feedback...

"We just had to let you know how much we all enjoyed the whole experience of working on Carmen with the English Pocket Opera Company. It was such hard work, with all that singing, acting and making of props! It was all worth it though, when it came to our day at the Jeanette Cochrane Theatre. We learnt so much about the theatre when we went on our backstage tour, but the most thrilling part was being on the stage!

When we went onto the stage for our first rehearsal we were so nervous you could hardly hear a word we sang! We got better as time went on but then in the afternoon we had a real audience and, oh boy, did that make us feel nervous!

"At first, when I got on the stage I was shaken but then, after a while, I wanted to do it again!" "First I was nervous but when I got on stage I was not. It was really fun. I thought I was going to forget but I didn't. I was really proud of myself." "I loved doing make-up, it was like 'Stars in Their Eyes'. We were all transformed into old men, lovely women and stinky fruit sellers." "I have never had such a fantastic day!" "It was the best day of my life!" "It was the first time in my life that I have been on a stage. I wish I could do it again!"

"This was a truly wonderful experience for us all, children and adults alike. The 'WOW' factor was evident throughout. Thank you to the EAZ and Neighbourhood Renewal Funding for making it all possible."

THE CLOWNS

Following the highly successful Carmen Opera project run by the English Pocket Opera Company ('EPOC') in five Sage schools in 2003 the company ran another series of workshops in 2004. The work was based around 'The Clowns' or 'Pagliacci', by Italian composer Ruggiero Leoncavallo.

Pendragon, New Woodlands and St John Baptist school took advantage of the three places on the full programme, whilst Athelney, Coopers Lane, Elfrida, Good Shepherd, Rushey Green, Torridon Juniors and St Augustine's participated in Phases One and Three.

Phase One was the Opera Hotpot, where up to 200 children in each school had the opportunity to watch a "fast paced, interactive Marx Brothers-esque presentation introducing the ingredients of opera ... and the story of 'The Clowns'."

During Phase Two EPOC workshop leaders worked with class-sized groups in Pendragon, New Woodlands and St John Baptist, over a three-day period. This work led to a performance by the children during Phase Three.

Phase Three involved a matinée at the Cochrane Theatre. All participating schools received a number of free tickets for the show, which included performances by the children involved in Phase Two - the culmination of all their hard work. All performing schools also enjoyed a backstage tour.

The children involved thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and put on a show fit to equal the Opera's first performance in Milan in 1892!