Homeless opera takes over Covent Garden

Homeless charity Streetwise Opera will have a seven-week Covent Garden residency this summer.

There wll be weekly workshops at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre for up to 30 homeless people aged 40–75, culminating in a free lunchtime performance on Friday 2 August 2019.

Paul McGrail, a performer with Streetwise Opera, said: ‘It’s an honour and a privilege, besides being just a sheer delight, to go back to the Royal Opera House. Just going into the building is very special. It brings a bit of a buzz.’

Programme participants will have the opportunity to explore Barrie Kosky’s all-singing, all-dancing production of Bizet’s masterpiece Carmen, which returns to The Royal Opera for its second UK revival this summer. Upon completion of the project, Streetwise Opera will continue its weekly programme of workshops at the Southbank Centre, where it has been based since 2017.

Hannah Conway, Artistic Director of Streetwise Opera, said: ‘It is a joy for Streetwise Opera to collaborate with the Royal Opera House. It will be very special to witness how The Royal Opera’s world-class artists can affect our performers and their lives, while our own performers enrich their artistry within the Royal Opera House.’