The Opera House Next Door (2017). Credit: Brian Slater

Time is running out. You must act fast to solve the puzzles and uncover an ancient mystery. But what is that strange sound? With explorer Loki as your guide, can you decipher the words of The Oracle?

Taking an original approach to contemporary opera, The Opera House Next Door presents an immersive production of King Harald’s Saga by Judith Weir.

Part escape room, part archaeological dig, the interactive show is performed in domestic and other unusual sites. At its heart, is a desire to reach those who are unfamiliar with opera, whilst stretching the appetites of regular opera-goers.

In 2017, the debut production toured to residents living rooms, and arts spaces across Kent. It received powerful audience feedback, described as "highly engaging" ... “The Crystal Maze meets Grand Opera.”

It was scaled up for a special performance at The Brook Theatre, Chatham as part of the Paint The Town Festival, adapted for audiences with visual impairments.

Unusually, the array of puzzles, clues and interactive props used in the production were designed and road-tested with local community arts groups.

The Opera House Next Door has future ambitions to tour the Eastern Coast of England and Norway.

Gallery

Production notes

SparkedEcho and Fat Lady Opera present The Opera House Next Door (2017)

Producers: Kevin Grist and Tania Holland Williams

Assistant Producer: Janet Moore

Artistic Director: Tania Holland Williams

Artists: Mike Imerson, Cathy Robinson, Liz Hayward, Wendy Daws BEM, Chris Sacre

Set and costume: Ruth Paton

Show photography: Brian Slater

Music by: Judith Weir - King Harald’s Saga

Sound: Liz Hayward

Running time: 60-90 minutes
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Partners and funders: Arts Council England, Ideas Test, Mess Room, Lyrici Arts, Medway Arts Development Team, Kent Association for the Blind, Strood Youth Centre, The Brook Theatre, Sunflower House Folkestone.

Trailers

Paint the Town Festival 2017

The Opera House Next Door project was also part of the Paint the Town Festival, with a specially adapted performance suitable for those with visual impairments. 

Taking place on the 24 October at The Brook Theatre, Chatham, the Access for All performance was kindly co-commissioned by Paint the Town Festival and the Medway Arts Development Team. 

The Paint the Town festival is produced by Lyrici Arts in partnership with Battersea Arts Centre and The Collaborative Touring network. The Medway-based theatre and arts festival (2016-2019), aims to create opportunities for local audiences to engage with the arts.

Audience responses

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Thank you so much for an incredible opera experience this evening. I am still buzzing from it.
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I found myself actively listening to the singer to hear and understand the words, searching for clues to the puzzles.
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​A superb and extremely moving performance, the attention to detail made it a most memorable experience
​for all of us.
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​ I felt like I was using all my senses to recreate a musical artwork. Brilliant, just brilliant!
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​When the opera was combined with the interactive, sensory elements of the performance, I really found myself engaged on a whole other level.
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​I really had understood the story. I have to say the whole experience has made me feel so much less intimidated by attending an opera.
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Partners and funders