Access All Areas: Metro Schools

Join Victorian Opera for four online workshops in the lead-up to seeing our education opera in theatre.

Ideal for Primary School students in Years Foundation to 6. Aligns with Australian Curriculum General Capabilities and Learning Areas in:

• The Arts – Music, Drama and Visual Arts
• English

Supported by a downloadable Education Resource with curriculum-aligned classroom activities tailored to each workshop.

All four workshops will be live streamed directly into your classroom on the dates listed below. All content is available on-demand for up to six (6) months from the livestream date, giving you and your students three extra views. Each workshop is easily accessed online using the unique log-in details sent to schools in the week before the first workshop begins.

Workshops run for approximately 30 minutes each and will include a variety of interactive activities. Please note, workshop content is subject to change.

Workshop 1: What is opera?

Begin your journey into the world of opera and be serenaded by opera singers as they demonstrate a range of voice types unique to the art form.

Workshop 2: Directing a scene

Follow along as the director stages a scene with members of the cast.

Workshop 3: Creating the world of the education opera

The world of the education opera comes alive as we meet the set, costume and lighting designers and explore the designs that bring this production to life on stage.

Workshop 4: The Orchestra

Join the orchestra in rehearsal as the production moves into the theatre. Meet the conductor and musicians and learn about the instruments they play.

Performance

See all of the elements from the workshops combine when you attend Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse Theatre in person to watch a performance live on stage.

* Access an Audio Described Performance and a Tactile Tour. Tactile Tours are for ticket holders with a vision impairment and their companion to explore the props and costumes before the performance begins. Audio Description narrates the action on stage for audience members who are blind or visually impaired via a wireless receiver pack and earpiece. When organising your tickets, please ask the venue box office to book your Audio Description receiver and Tactile Tour. Find out more about Accessibility.

**Access a Relaxed Performance which is ideal for audience members with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome and those sensitive to sensory variance.

Parrwang Lifts the Sky

Did you know that magpies created the first dawn?

Victorian Opera is pleased to restage this adaption of the Wadawurrung creation story Parrwang Lifts the Sky. Written by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO, this family and education production follows the story of how Parrwang (the magpie) helps her human friends Tjatarrang (Big Sister) and Koki (Brother) create the first dawn. Lifting the blanket of darkness from the world is only possible by convincing The Great Council of Birds led by Bunjil (Eagle).

Education shows listed below:

MALTHOUSE: Merlyn Theatre

Friday 10 May 10.30* am and 1.00 pm**, Monday 13 May 10.30 am, Tuesday 14 May 10.30 am, Wednesday 15 May 10.30 am and 1.00 pm~, Thursday 16 May 10.30 am and 1.00 pm~, Friday 17 May 10.30 am***

Ballarat Civic Hall

Friday 24 May 1.00 pm

* Access an Audio Described Performance and a Tactile Tour. Tactile Tours are for ticket holders with a vision impairment and their companion to explore the props and costumes before the performance begins. Audio Description narrates the action on stage for audience members who are blind or visually impaired via a wireless receiver pack and earpiece. When organising your tickets, please ask the venue box office to book your Audio Description receiver and Tactile Tour. Find out more about Accessibility.

**Access a Relaxed Performance which is ideal for audience members with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome and those sensitive to sensory variance.

***Livestreamed Performance

~ With Secondary Schools

The Grumpiest Boy in the World

Our hero, Zachary, questions his own ordinariness as he discovers an imaginary world of giants, hairy creatures, and flying things in this eye-opening opera for children. Featuring a score from Joseph Twist, known for his stellar musical direction on hit children’s TV show, Bluey, alongside Sidney Myer Fellowship librettist and much-loved children’s author, Finegan Kruckemeyer, this opera will be an enriching tale for children and adults alike.

To get an idea of how Access All Areas works, check out the education resources in the button below. Here you will find the Visual Story resource and Access All Areas workshop resource which includes interactive pdf documents to use on the classroom projector and printable worksheets.

Book your school into this amazing opportunity to learn, explore and spark interest in opera and musical theatre.

Click on the link below and fill out all required fields. An order confirmation will be sent in 1 – 2 days to your email address upon successfully completing the registration and an invoice for payment will follow shortly after.

Can't get to the theatre?

No problems, contact our experienced Education & Pathways Team on (03) 9012 6659 to see if your eligible for our livestream and on-demand program.