OPERA may not appeal to most 18 to 25-year-olds but ArtHouse 鶹 is on the lookout for some young converts.
Working with 鶹-born opera singer Georgia Mae Bishop, the organisation is exploring new ways of approaching the art form.
The project does not take a traditional stance, with participants being invited to explore opera’s capacity both to be funny and moving. They are asked to bring enthusiasm, creativity and their voice to a workshop that involves a light vocal and physical warm-up followed by vocal exercises, with the opportunity to learn to sing without sheet music.
Help will be given interpreting, writing, and performing graphic scores using visual symbols, rather than traditional musical notation, followed by experimentation and collaboration to bring stories to life through improvisation. ArtHouse said benefits of taking part included boosting mood and reducing stress through group singing and gaining new skills in music, drama, and storytelling.
Producer Robyn Cabaret said they were delighted to be working with Ms Bishop over the next 18 months to bring the project to life.
“We hope to both celebrate and preserve the yet-to-be-told stories and culture of our island’s young adult population, making this project joyful, inclusive, and relevant. The idea is to have fun, meet people to experiment with and explore the possibility of redefining what opera can be,” Ms Cabaret said.
The workshop – which takes place on Saturday from 1.45pm to 5.30pm at ArtHouse 鶹’s Grève de Lecq Barracks, with further opportunities to be announced later in the year – is free of charge and places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided through the afternoon, and a £5 voucher towards travel costs is offered.
Those who would like to take part can email Ms Cabaret at: robyn@arts.je.
“Even if you haven’t any experience or aren’t sure whether the performing arts are for you, I urge you to come with an open mind and give it a go, as you may be surprised,” she said.
