World Opera Day: Westgate Hill pupils enjoy an interactive opera experience

“The question for schools is no longer simply what enrichment we offer, but what difference it makes.”

To celebrate World Opera Day on 25 October, we're looking back at how pupils at Westgate Hill Primary Academy were introduced to opera through Ada and the Code Crusaders, an interactive production by English Touring Opera (ETO).

The production combined music, storytelling and audience participation, giving pupils the chance to get involved and experience opera in a fun and accessible way. Learning songs and taking part in the performance helped bring the story to life and gave children a taste of a different kind of creative experience.

The opportunity was made possible through funding from the Laidlaw Foundation, which enabled pupils across all Laidlaw Schools Trust Academies to experience opera last academic year.

Introducing children to different art forms at an early age can help spark interests they might not otherwise discover. It also gives them the chance to enjoy music, storytelling and performance in a new setting.

World Opera Day is a reminder of the importance of keeping the arts open to everyone. Through its partnership with ETO, LST is helping more young people experience opera and discover the enjoyment and opportunities that creative experiences can bring.