What we want to achieve

Working with our Music Hub partners, the project aims to engage a wide range of young people and family audiences in a community opera. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) will introduce young people to the magical soundworld of the orchestra by bringing world-class orchestral music to their towns.

What we're doing

Young people will explore the show with the OAE through a series of workshops. They will then join the professional cast to create a unique performance for their town.

Throughout the project, young people are involved as key performer participants and their musical contributions are central to the narrative of the show.

These include:

• Primary school groups as a children’s chorus
• Secondary school youth ensembles collaborating with OAE on creative work to develop their performance
• Youth Choir as the opera chorus
• Roles for 6-10 child actors. 

Future plans

In partnership with the OAE, we are touring The Fairy Queen: Three Wishes to 4 of our partnership areas. The tour started in County Durham in winter 24/25 and will then visit Norfolk and Lincolnshire in 2026.

Partners, performers and venues

County Durham - 2 performances at Consett Empire with 6 primary schools, Consett Academy and Durham Music Youth Choir.

King’s Lynn & West Norfolk - 2 performances at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange with primary schools from across the Borough, as well as related TOTS interactive music sessions with young families.

OAE’s The Fairy Queen tour is supported by an Arts Council England strategic touring grant and we are grateful for the support of all funders.