Northern Ireland Opera presents the IMAGINE! tour

Northern Ireland Opera is bringing its IMAGINE! tour to the Portico of Ards on Saturday 30 June from 11am to 1pm. Throughout an interactive session of music, art and craft, children are invited to go on a journey of playful engagement with themes of identity, discovery and fantasy.

Ni Opera at the imagine festivel, cresent arts Centre. Photo Paul Moore

The event, supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council, will be led by the talented singers of the Northern Ireland Opera Studio; and children will investigate themes of identity, self-exploration and fantasy through music and art. They will be invited to imagine and create “a new world” with alien creatures, novelty architecture and fashion, undiscovered languages, unknown behaviour. What world would you like to live in and who would you meet there? On their journey, children will encounter studio singers as “otherworldly” inhabitants of an imagined parallel universe, singing their songs. Repertoire will include evocative pieces from children’s and family operas of the 20th and 21st century, as well as 19th century fairy tale operas.

The IMAGINE! tour has been performing across Northern Ireland during the month of June and has already performed in Belfast, Derry and Armagh. The tour is a perfect opportunity for parents to introduce their child/ children to the world of opera in a fun and interactive setting.

Kate Guelke, Director said:

‘‘So far, our young audience are brilliantly curious and imaginative. We’ve been delighted by their questions, suggestions, gasps, laughter! This is children’s opera as it should be – interactive, engaging and magical. Audience participation highly encouraged.’’

The IMAGINE! tour is suitable for children of a primary school age and is a magical introduction to opera and the arts. Previous attenders have been delighted and fully immersed in the event and this is definitely an event not to be missed.

Tickets for the Portico show cost £7.50 per adult and £5 per child and are on sale at:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ardsandnorthdown

For further information, please contact:

Emma Martin (Marketing and Communication Assistant) on (028) 9027 2522 or visit www.niopera.com/imagine.