Behind the Scenes

Creative workshops

• Creative workshops
• Inside View
• Study Guides
• Outreach photos
• Schools' performances
• Comments from Students

Vocal Creative Workshop

Since 2000, NZO has offered the opportunity for a number of students in Auckland and Wellington to work with professional opera practitioners (including a Director, Conductor and Composer) to create their own piece of musical theatre based on the themes of the current opera production. This culminates in a performance of their work to their peers, friends and family in a theatre environment. It's a unique experience that cannot be reproduced in a normal school structure.

Download information on Vocal Creative Workshops (384 KB)
Download Vocal Creative Workshop participant form (388 KB)

Design Creative Workshop

A set designer and costume designer work with up to 20 intermediate level students over a period of three days to experience the process of designing a full production from scratch. Students learn about scale and dimension and ultimately create set models of their own version of the production with costume design imagery also included. These are then displayed in the foyer of the theatre during the opera season. Participants also attend part of a technical day in a theatre, including inspecting the set of the current opera, experiencing a backstage tour to look at the running of a professional theatre and seeing the production costumes first-hand, culminating in attending NZO's current opera.

Vocal mini-workshop (Touring years only)

This connects a director, singers and an accompanist with students to provide a taster of what opera and storytelling is. The NZO team guide the students towards the creation of their own small scene based on the themes of the touring opera which they then perform to each other. To complete the experience, the students are given the opportunity to attend a performance of the opera.

Enquiries: education@nzopera.co.nz