Opera in the Shed

WNO brings world-class opera for everyone to a Bristol Train Shed

Welsh National Opera (WNO) will be making a new opera house out of a Victorian Passenger shed in Bristol for a week in April. From Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 April, WNO will present Opera in the Shed, a varied programme of performances, workshops and free demonstrations. It will include the premiere of a brand new song cycle City Songs created by 200 children from schools all over Bristol.

The Passenger Shed at Temple Meads station – the first purpose-built railway station terminus in the world and built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel – will be transformed by the skilled WNO technicians into a unique performance space. Housing an audience of around 600, the Shed is part of the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum.

The brand new song-cycle City Songs was created by the young people during a series of workshops with composer Karen Wimhurst, poet Claire Williamson, singer Tara Harrison and WNO staff. City Songs will be accompanied by the Orchestra of WNO. Inspired by the children’s home city of Bristol, the children will take the audience on a journey along the river and celebrate their city in words, music and pictures.

The river Avon and its swans form the central theme for the City Songs composition, and the children’s teachers have also formed a choir and will sing part of the piece. City Songs was commissioned by Welsh National Opera and Multi A with support from Creative Partnerships and Bristol City Council.

The project has been led by WNO MAX, an initiative which takes a diverse and integrated programme of performances and projects beyond the main stage. MAX encompasses an education and outreach brief, and maximises company resources and create new opportunities for the ensemble and for the communities it reaches.

Anthony Freud, General Director of Welsh National Opera, said: ‘We are very excited to have this extraordinary opportunity to work in such a remarkable building, with a unique history, right in the heart of Bristol. Opera really is for everyone, and at WNO we work hard to encourage people to come to us and to opera. But through this extensive selection of events we are now able to take opera out to the people as well.

This project is proof that there is much more to WNO than a proscenium arch. With Opera in the Shed we will be offering our regular patrons something new and very different. But we hope also to bring new audiences to opera through the diversity of the performances and demonstrations.’

Ticket are on sale from Monday 24 February from the Bristol Old Vic Box Office on 0117 987 7877 and range from £2.50 for City Songs and The Foundry to £12.50 (£5 for concessions) for all other performances. The wardrobe, wigs, makeup and props demonstrations are free to ticket holders.

Wednesday 9 April

A new song cycle by the young people of Bristol with composer Karen Wimhurst and librettist Claire Williamson, played by the orchestra of Welsh National Opera. 200 young people have been mapping their city, uncovering its secrets, adventuring up river and whispering with swans. Let them take you on a journey along the river, back in time and into the future, celebrating their city in words, music and pictures.

Their song cycle for Bristol, sung with the orchestra of the Welsh National Opera will magically bring the city to life through their eyes from the viewpoint of the river's enchanting swans. Eye of the swan on the Bristol River Gliding gently from bridge to bridge through generations, history's witness go with the flow go with the flow go with the flow

We are expecting high demand for this event so please reserve your tickets as soon as possible.
City Songs was commissioned by Welsh National Opera and Multi A with support from creative partnerships and Bristol City Council.

1800 - 2000
Singers workshop – As seen on TV!
£2.50
Mary King – the vocal coach and presenter of Channel 4’s Operatunity – presents a workshop for singers. Whether you are in a community choir, are training to be a singer or just love singing in the shower, this is your chance to learn some of the techniques used by professional singers to improve your craft.

1045 – 1145
The Foundry
£2.50
Experience four energetic percussionists play an amazing array of instruments. This is music for the eyes and the ears with performances to leave you breathless. Loud, joyful and rhythmic, The Foundry prove you can create a rhythm - and music - by drumming on anything from railway sleepers to cowbells.

1315 - 1345
String Quartet
FREE
A lunch break with a difference. Discover an oasis of calm and tranquillity with the beautiful, inspirational sounds of a string quartet from Welsh National Opera’s world-class Orchestra.

1400 – 1515
Trial by Jury + songs
£12/ £5 discounts
The full Chorus of Welsh National Opera perform Trial by Jury - one of the Gilbert and Sullivan’s first operettas. Packed with jilted brides, lascivious judges and general confusion– all underpinned by quick wit and humour. This world-class chorus will also perform a selection of popular classical songs and operatic choruses.

1530 - 1615
Wardrobe demonstration
FREE to ticket holders
In one year, the wardrobe team work with over 250 performers who change costumes at least twice in every production! This is your chance to find out how cloaks and crinolines are created for the productions you see on stage.

1930- 2030
Paris and Puccini
£12/ £5 discounts
The perfect introduction to opera, Il Tabarro (The Cloak) is one of three one-act operas by Puccini. Three stories and characters entwine on a narrowboat on the Seine in Paris. Strong drama, murder and passion ensue. Il Tabarro is preceeded by a journey through Paris with the sweeping sounds of Gershwin’s American in Paris and three café songs.

1000 - 1200
Singers workshop
£2.50
Aimed singers who are hungry to learn opera choruses, this is a free workshop with artists from WNO. Places are limited, so please book in advance.

1245 – 1330
Wigs and makeup demonstration
FREE
Young men age 50 years before your eyes, baldness disappears to be replaced by a rich, glossy mane. Wigs and makeup artists are a fundamental part of the productions you see on stage. Find out their secrets with this behind the scenes demonstration

1800 – 1845
Props demonstration
FREE
Tom Bird, WNO’s Head of Props, gives an insight into the world of theatre props, and will bring along a selection of items that have been made over the years which may include fake food and drink, armour, limbs and livestock.

City Songs – We are expecting high demand for this event so tickets should be reserved as soon as possible. All tickets are £2.50.

Wardrobe, wigs, makeup and props demonstrations are free to ticket holders.
The Foundry – All tickets £2.50
All other performances £12.50/ £5 discounts for children, students, registered disabled, registered unemployed.

HOW TO BOOK

In person
Bristol Old Vic, King St, Bristol Avon BS1 4ED
(including up to 12 noon on Saturday 12 April)

The Passenger Shed offers a cash only box office on the day of performance. We regret that credit and debit cards can not be used in the Passenger Shed.

USEFUL INFORMATION

The Passenger Shed is between Bristol Temple Meads station and the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum’s main entrance.

Parking can be difficult in this area and we suggest you take public transport or taxis to these performances. There is a taxi rank directly outside the station. The number 8, 9 and 180 buses run to Temple Meads Railway Station from the centre of the city every 10 minutes. More information from First Great Western on 0870 6082608.

Temple Meads Car park costs £8.00 undercover and £5.40 outside for 24 hours. Parking is also available in Portwall Lane, Redcliffe Parade Church Lane or Temple gate.