INO is looking to work with young people aged 14-18, living outside of Ireland’s main urban areas, to help create the world’s first virtual reality opera community opera.

What is a community opera? Put simply, it’s just an opera made with professional artists in collaboration with people from different communities. In this case, the community we are looking to work with is young people located in areas of the country away from major cities. Our opera will be in virtual reality, so the final piece won’t appear on a stage like a conventional opera, but instead you’ll experience it through a VR headset.

We’ll be running a number of workshops over the coming weeks to explore the stories and themes that will contribute to the final opera. We have a series of creative writing workshops with writer Dave Lordan, exploring the theme Out of the Ordinary. You don’t have to know anything about opera, writing or virtual reality to take part in the project. Participation is free of charge. Enthusiasm and an open mind are all that’s required.

There will be four workshop sessions which will take place via Zoom on the following dates at 6pm-7:30pm.

10th February, 17th February, 24th February & 3rd March

If you’d like to get involved please fill in the form here no later than 3rd February (forms must be completed by a parent or guardian). Whilst anyone living in Ireland aged 14-18 is welcome to apply spaces on the course are limited and we will be prioritising applicants who live outside major cities. We will be in touch to let you know if you’ve been successful in gaining a place on the project.

If you have an questions, feel free to email us at info [at] irishnationalopera.ie

See link below for further details.