Live music from a full orchestra. Dazzling costumes. Spectacle and melodrama. No language barrier. And fireworks. Yes, we mean real fireworks. Put like that, the ingredients of an opera sound like a thrilling family treat. Unfortunately, many families are deterred by the prospect of mid-aria toilet trips or sitting still and shushing for over 2 hours. Opera Australia has the answer and it’s arriving at the Opera House.
Opera Australia welcomes families with open arms to special ‘Relaxed Performances.’ The sessions are designed to suit kids, those with special needs and anyone who wants a more flexible experience of the opera. Got ants in your pants? Feel free to come and go from your seat. Need a break from the show? Chill out in a designated quiet space. Have something to say? Noise and disturbance are welcome.
Two ‘Relaxed Performances’ of the opera are upcoming. All ages and abilities can jump aboard and become an opera aficionado!
Delve into Puccini’s devastating love story, La Boheme, with a ‘Relaxed Performance’ at Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, on 21st January.
Will love really conquer all as a cruel winter descends on 1930s Berlin? Seamstress Mimi and poet Rodolfo fall in love in a bar. Fairy lights, velvet and gold gilt abound, not to mention spectacular costume. La Boheme’s Relaxed Performance is a perfect introduction to the magic and mystery that goes on inside the Sydney Opera House sails. This production is recommended for teenagers aged 16 and above, as it includes nudity and depictions of domestic violence.
Head out into the open air on 22nd April for the outdoor ‘Relaxed’ and audio-described performance of Handa Opera’s La Traviata. Find your seat in the grandstand at Mrs Macquarie’s Point to follow the story of social butterfly and free spirit Violetta. Verdi’s resounding music is set against the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour, including off-shore party boats, fireworks and a giant chandelier made of 10,000 crystals.
The designated quiet space at La Traviata Relaxed Performance includes sensory objects. This open air, all-weather event is recommended for ages 8 and up.
Bookings for Relaxed Performances of La Boheme on 21st January and La Traviata on 22nd April can be made online or over the phone. La Boheme runs from 2nd January to 30th January. La Traviata runs from 27th March to 26th April.
Sophie is a die-hard pasta lover, beach-goer and theatre fanatic hit hard with the travel bug. When exploring new places, Sophie loves straying from the beaten path and chatting with locals about the best places to grab a bite to eat.