The project is to be known as 'Regeneration in Harmony'. The well-being and self-esteem of young school children in inner city London is the focus of this new and exciting initiative being introduced in 2007. Initially a four-year project,‘Regeneration In Harmony’, will in its first stage, seeing junior and secondary schools in the borough of Southwark embarking on a programme introducing the children and their surrounding communities to tai chi, music, dance and drama.
Surrey Square Junior School in Southwark was chosen as a pilot for this, with the intention of involving more schools in the area to participate in a combined performance of the world acclaimed opera Carmen in the Unicorn Theatre Summer of 2007. Rehearsals for this will start in the Spring of 2007.
A team of professionals from Suffolk-based company First Act Opera, will spend time getting to know the children at Surrey Square and nurturing their self-esteem through Tai Chi and also structured music and drama workshops. With highlights such as ‘Granny Can You Rap?’ the conclusion of a daylong ‘intergenerational’ drama workshop, the children demonstrating their Tai Chi forms and dancing African Body Percussion led by Oliver Heath. Professional opera soloists, artistic director and an invited audience of parents and members of their local community will attend and even participate. Those participating will experience all the aspects of performance from the generation of ideas through to preparation for auditioning and the performing itself.
Once this first milestone has been reached, two other schools in the area, Walworth Secondary School and Victory Primary School will become involved in the project to rehearse for an adapted public production of the opera Carmen in July 2007. The cast will be made up of a combination of pupils of all ages from all three schools, plus a selection of professional principals from First Act Opera.
The idea for Regeneration in Harmony came from my work in schools over the past 20 years. The adaptation of the Carmen includes elements of dance that incorporate and extend the multifaceted ethnic origins of Flamenco and Moorish African Culture on Southern Spain, where opera is set. There will be a new English translation by librettist and artistic director, Fraser Grant, written in a way that children will understand and really enjoy being part of, to the extent that they will forget they are performing in an elitist ‘opera’; rather they will be engaging in popular culture.
Elizabeth Robinson, the head teacher at Surrey Square School, and the youngest head teacher in the UK, said, ‘We are very excited about the project ‘Regeneration in Harmony’ because of the wide range of opportunities it offers to our pupils. We find the creative arts a key tool in engaging our children, and are a successful way of raising self-esteem and commitment to learning. Much of our work is concerned with raising the aspirations of our school and community, and bringing opera to them, in an accessible way, is a wonderful example of this.’
It is hoped that additional funding for a video diary of the process will be obtained. The diary would be kept over the four years so that others can benefit from seeing the process in action and want to sponsor similar initiatives in other areas or join the project themselves. If you wish to donate to or sponsor or participate in the project please contact us.
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