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In the Belly of the Horse

- Spring 2012

A fully interactive children’s opera for Key Stage 2 pupils, exploring the fantastic story that leads the Greeks to build the wooden horse.

Tim Yealland – Director
Rachel Leach – Composer

In the Belly of the Horse is a fully interactive new opera for Key Stage 2 pupils, brought to your own school hall. With music by Rachel Leach the piece explores the fantastic story that leads the Greeks to build the wooden horse. As the Greeks wait in the horse to cause havoc in Troy they tell each other stories to calm their nerves. The story is told in many different and engaging ways including acting, singing, instrumental music, dance, animated film and design.

Performed by a multi-skilled cast of 4 professional singers and 4 professional players (violin, cello, clarinet, percussion), it is fully designed and costumed. The opera is the third of three new operas based on classical myths. The piece is extremely interactive and endeavours to engage with the children on every level. Lasting an hour and a quarter, the show can work with up to about 200 pupils.

Curriculum links
In the Belly of the Horse supports various areas of the curriculum, including literacy, history, maths and science, art and design, as well as drama and music. It is suitable for pupils aged 7 to 11.

The piece is accompanied by a comprehensive teachers’ pack including stories about the Greek myths and characters, and background material as well as classroom ideas, a CD (with sheet music) of 2 songs for the pupils to learn and a special black and white, colourable, 4-page cartoon for every child, telling the story of the opera.

Video trailer

How to book
Would you like to be involved with this project? We are currently looking for schools in Exeter, Poole, Crawley / Horsham, Buxton and Coventry. If you’re from one of these areas, and you would like us to come and perform In the Belly of the Horse at your school, please contact Alexa Carey on 020 7833 2555 or alexa.carey@englishtouringopera.org.uk.

Showing At

  1. British Museum
    8th Feb 2012 - 10:30 am
  2. British Museum
    8th Feb 2012 - 12:30 pm
  3. British Museum
    9th Feb 2012 - 10:30 am
  4. British Museum
    9th Feb 2012 - 12:30 pm
  5. Trent C of E Primary School, Barnet
    10th Feb 2012 - 10:15 am
  6. Exeter
    22nd Mar 2012 - 12:00 pm
  7. Constantine School
    26th Mar 2012 - 12:00 am
  8. Trannack Community Primary School, Helston
    28th Mar 2012 - 1:30 pm
  9. Poole
    30th Mar 2012 - 12:00 am
  10. Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh
    14th Apr 2012 - 2:00 pm
  11. Wingfield Secondary College, Rotherham
    17th Apr 2012 - 12:00 am
  12. Crawley
    20th Apr 2012 - 12:00 am
  13. St Matthews C of E Primary, Liss
    24th Apr 2012 - 10:00 am
  14. Buxton
    27th Apr 2012 - 12:00 am
  15. Winchcombe Abbey Primary School, Cheltenham
    2nd May 2012 - 1:30 pm
  16. Charlton Kings Junior School, Cheltenham
    4th May 2012 - 12:00 am
  17. Coventry
    10th May 2012 - 12:00 am
  18. Harton Primary School, South Shields
    15th May 2012 - 10:15 am
  19. Oakbank Primary School, Perth
    18th May 2012 - 12:00 am
  20. Thrapston Primary School
    24th May 2012 - 1:30 pm
  1. British Museum — 8th Feb 2012 - 10:30 am

    Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG

  2. British Museum — 8th Feb 2012 - 12:30 pm

    Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG

  3. British Museum — 9th Feb 2012 - 10:30 am

    Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG

  4. British Museum — 9th Feb 2012 - 12:30 pm

    Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG

  5. Trent C of E Primary School, Barnet — 10th Feb 2012 - 10:15 am

    Barnet, EN4 9JH

  6. Exeter — 22nd Mar 2012 - 12:00 pm

    EX1 3RW

  7. Constantine School — 26th Mar 2012 - 12:00 am

    Trebarvah Road, Constantine, TR11 5AG

  8. Trannack Community Primary School, Helston — 28th Mar 2012 - 1:30 pm

    Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0DQ

  9. Poole — 30th Mar 2012 - 12:00 am

    BH15 1UG

  10. Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh — 14th Apr 2012 - 2:00 pm

    Crabbe Street, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5BN

  11. Wingfield Secondary College, Rotherham — 17th Apr 2012 - 12:00 am

    Wingfield Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S61 4AU

  12. Crawley — 20th Apr 2012 - 12:00 am

    RH17 5HN

  13. St Matthews C of E Primary, Liss — 24th Apr 2012 - 10:00 am

    Drift Road, Blackmoor, Liss, Hampshire, GU33 6BN

  14. Buxton — 27th Apr 2012 - 12:00 am

    SK17 6XN

  15. Winchcombe Abbey Primary School, Cheltenham — 2nd May 2012 - 1:30 pm

    Cheltenham, GL54 5PZ

  16. Charlton Kings Junior School, Cheltenham — 4th May 2012 - 12:00 am

    Cheltenham, GL53 8QE

  17. Coventry — 10th May 2012 - 12:00 am

    CV4 7AL

  18. Harton Primary School, South Shields — 15th May 2012 - 10:15 am

    South Shields, NE34 6PF

  19. Oakbank Primary School, Perth — 18th May 2012 - 12:00 am

    Viewlands Road West, Perth, PH1 1NA

  20. Thrapston Primary School — 24th May 2012 - 1:30 pm

    Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN14 4JU

Cast

Martha Jones

Martha Jones

Mezzo soprano

Martha is currently studying with Janis Kelly at RCM International Opera School and is gratefully supported in her studies by an RCM Scholarship, Sophie’s Silver Lining Fund and the Josephine Baker Trust. Prizes include awards in the RCM Schumann Competition and the Chelsea Schubert Festival. Martha is a Britten-Pears Young Artist, having sung in their 2009 Schumann masterclass season with Malcolm Martineau. Oratorio work includes Vivaldi Gloria, Mozart Coronation Mass, Haydn Nelson Mass and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Roles include Hansl, Rosina, Florence Pike, Dorabella and Concepcion (RCM Opera Scenes); Zweite Dame/ Die Zauberflote, cover Dog and Hen/ The Cunning Little Vixen, Cupid/ Orpheus in the Underworld (all for RCMIOS); Hänsel/ Hänsel und Gretel (Woodhouse Opera); Dorabella/ Così fan tutte (Woodhouse Opera; Vignette Productions); cover Teodata/ Flavio (ETO).

Abigail Kelly

Abigail Kelly

Soprano

Abigail was born in Birmingham and trained at the Birmingham Conservatoire and also at the RSAMD. She was the Peter Moores Foundation Scholar in 2008-2009 and the winner of the Rae Woodland Prize 2008. Operatic roles include Sara/ Tobias and the Angel (Bollington Opera Festival); Mrs Grant/ Mary Seacole, The Opera (Gyenyame Performing Arts) and Belinda/ Dido and Aeneas (SAMPAD Arts). Abigail has toured with British Youth Opera in Italy, France and London, performing in the choruses of La Boheme, Don Giovanni and Eugene Onegin and has also performed with Opera South Africa and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Abigail has previously performed with ETO as Naiad and cover Kitchen Boy/ Rusalka, Mary Prince/ Bridgetower, Cobweb/ A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Bridesmaid/ The Marriage of Figaro.

Edward Lee

Edward Lee

Tenor

Maciek O'Shea

Maciek O'Shea

Bass

Born in London, Maciek studied History at UCL and went on to study voice at Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he was the winner of the English Song Competition in 2006.

Operatic engagements include cover Masetto, Don Giovanni, Mars, Orpheus in the Underworld (both Opera Holland Park); cover Death, Savitri (Buxton Festival Opera). Oratorio engagements include Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem, J.S. Bach B minor Mass and Mendelssohn Elijah. Recitals include Before and After Summer (highlights) for the Third English Song Weekend in Ludlow; Schumann Myrten and Brahms Die Schöne Magelone both for the Oxford Lieder Festival.

Previous roles with ETO include Physician and cover Betto, Gianni Schicchi, Bean and cover Fox, Fantastic Mr Fox, cover and played Theseus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, cover and played First Priest and Second Armed Man, The Magic Flute, Gamekeeper, Rusalka.

Crew

Mark Simmons

Mark Simmons

Clarinet

Jonny Raper

Jonny Raper

Percussion

Vladimir Naumov

Vladimir Naumov

Violin

Ben Davies

Ben Davies

Cello

Ruth Paton

Ruth Paton

Designer

Jude Munden

Jude Munden

Horse Designer

Babis Alexiadis

Babis Alexiadis

Animator

Sarah Lenton

Sarah Lenton

Illustrator

Katharina Houy

Katharina Houy

Stage Manager

Showing At

  1. British Museum
    8th Feb 2012 - 10:30 am
  2. British Museum
    8th Feb 2012 - 12:30 pm
  3. British Museum
    9th Feb 2012 - 10:30 am
  4. British Museum
    9th Feb 2012 - 12:30 pm
  5. Trent C of E Primary School, Barnet
    10th Feb 2012 - 10:15 am
  6. Exeter
    22nd Mar 2012 - 12:00 pm
  7. Constantine School
    26th Mar 2012 - 12:00 am
  8. Trannack Community Primary School, Helston
    28th Mar 2012 - 1:30 pm
  9. Poole
    30th Mar 2012 - 12:00 am
  10. Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh
    14th Apr 2012 - 2:00 pm
  11. Wingfield Secondary College, Rotherham
    17th Apr 2012 - 12:00 am
  12. Crawley
    20th Apr 2012 - 12:00 am
  13. St Matthews C of E Primary, Liss
    24th Apr 2012 - 10:00 am
  14. Buxton
    27th Apr 2012 - 12:00 am
  15. Winchcombe Abbey Primary School, Cheltenham
    2nd May 2012 - 1:30 pm
  16. Charlton Kings Junior School, Cheltenham
    4th May 2012 - 12:00 am
  17. Coventry
    10th May 2012 - 12:00 am
  18. Harton Primary School, South Shields
    15th May 2012 - 10:15 am
  19. Oakbank Primary School, Perth
    18th May 2012 - 12:00 am
  20. Thrapston Primary School
    24th May 2012 - 1:30 pm

Your Comments

  1. I took my Year 3 class to see English Touring Opera’s performance of In the Belly of the Horse at the British Museum. I just want to thank the company for such a wonderful experience. I was hugely impressed by the quality of the production and the children were totally enthralled and inspired by it. As well as complementing our History work on Ancient Greece, it was such a unique and special opportunity for the children to be part of a real opera. Every single one of them thought it was fabulous and I am sure they will never forget it.

    Said Daniel A. at 16:48pm on 20th Feb 2012

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