Opera North workshop

On Wednesday 17^th November we were pleased to host a visit from members of Opera North who came to run a workshop on Britten’s opera, Turn of the Screw, with the music students from Year 9. 

Based on a novella by Henry James, it is an eerie and unsettling ghost story.  The day itself combined drama and music activities, which introduced the boys to the content and themes of the opera.  As well as producing tableaux, singing music from the opera and creating their own music, they had to engage in games, role-play, improvisation and even a ‘Sound of Music’ forfeit. 

The day culminated in a visit to the Theatre Royal where all the participants were able to see Opera North’s acclaimed new production.  Boys commented that the workshop was ‘really fun and memorable’ as well as helping them to ‘understand the opera and how music influenced the scenes’.