This Is My Bed

An opera about bedtimes and dreams. And a bed with a mind of its own!

Director 
Tim Yealland
Composer 
Pete Letanka
Designer 
Sophia Lovell Smith

This Is My Bed is the latest of a long line of operas devised annually for audiences with special educational needs and disabilities. Recent operas have included “Different (2017)”, Dust Child (2016), Waxwings (2015), Rumbled (2014) and Spin (2013). Interactive, stimulating and participatory, all of these operas are created to be enjoyed by young people of every ability.

This Is My Bed is devised in partnership with Perseid School in Wimbledon, and is a collaboration with Polka Theatre, where the show will play for two weeks in June 2018.

There’s one thing about your bed. It’s your very own bed. Except somebody else seems to think it’s their bed too. And then the bed itself has its own ideas. And when things get scary in the middle of the night it whisks you off to meet the very things you’re frightened of. Thank goodness the bed has some friends at the end of the journey.

Performed by three singers and two players, and full of fabulous songs and characters, This Is My Bed is completely immersive, and will take you to some very odd and surprising destinations.

Feedback from recent shows in our SEND strand:

“Both children and support staff loved the performance. It was interesting, fun and creative. A lovely story that the students could follow. The students loved it and were engaged throughout. They loved the music/songs, interacting with the performers and becoming part of the show. A fantastic performance that enabled all students to access and enjoy.

— Claire Hatton, teacher of a boys’ group aged 7-11 with visual impairment and additional needs

Very engaging and interactive. Having lots of things to do during the performance really brought it to life and ‘meeting the real cast’ was particularly great for the students. [The students were given] exposure to opera singing in an accessible format (i.e. not just sitting still and listening). An exciting sense of being part of the production. A massive thank you from everyone!

— Nick Atkins, teacher of students aged 11-16

If you are interested in booking the opera please contact Daniel Coelho or call 020 7833 2555.

Workshops held at Perseid School
Wednesday 27 September
Thursday 28 September
Monday 9 October
Tuesday 10 October
Wednesday 11 October

Dates subject to change

Showing At

  1. Perseid Upper School, Surrey
    27th Sep 2017 - 10:00 am
  2. Perseid Upper School, Surrey
    28th Sep 2017 - 10:00 am
  3. Perseid Upper School, Surrey
    9th Oct 2017 - 10:00 am
  4. Perseid Upper School, Surrey
    10th Oct 2017 - 10:00 am
  5. Perseid Upper School, Surrey
    11th Oct 2017 - 10:00 am
  6. Corbets Tey School
    6th Mar 2018 - 11:00 am
  7. Corbets Tey School
    6th Mar 2018 - 1:30 pm
  8. Lansdowne School
    9th Mar 2018 - 2:15 pm
  9. Heartlands, Redruth
    14th Mar 2018 - 11:00 am
  10. Victoria Education Centre, Poole
    16th Mar 2018 - 2:00 pm
  11. Sir Tom Finney Community High School
    19th Mar 2018 - 10:00 am
  12. Warden's Trust Centre, Suffolk
    14th Apr 2018 - 11:00 am
  13. The Valley School
    17th Apr 2018 - 11:00 am
  14. Castle School, Cambridge
    18th Apr 2018 - 2:00 pm
  15. National Star College, Cheltenham
    26th Apr 2018 - 11:45 am
  16. Stage Two, Norwich Theatre Royal
    5th May 2018 - 11:00 am
  17. Norfolk Park Primary School, Sheffield
    11th May 2018 - 10:00 am
  18. Fairview School, Perth
    17th May 2018 - 1:30 pm
  19. York Theatre Royal
    2nd Jun 2018 - 11:00 am
  20. Sandside Lodge School
    7th Jun 2018 - 11:00 am
  21. Highfurlong School, Blackpool
    8th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm
  22. Polka Theatre
    13th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  23. Polka Theatre
    13th Jun 2018 - 1:05 pm
  24. Polka Theatre
    14th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  25. Polka Theatre
    14th Jun 2018 - 1:05 pm
  26. Polka Theatre
    15th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  27. Polka Theatre
    15th Jun 2018 - 1:05 pm
  28. Polka Theatre
    16th Jun 2018 - 11:05 am
  29. Polka Theatre
    16th Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm
  30. Polka Theatre
    17th Jun 2018 - 11:05 am
  31. Polka Theatre
    17th Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm
  32. Polka Theatre
    20th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  33. Polka Theatre
    20th Jun 2018 - 2:05 pm
  34. Polka Theatre
    21st Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  35. Polka Theatre
    21st Jun 2018 - 2:05 pm
  36. Polka Theatre
    22nd Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  37. Polka Theatre
    22nd Jun 2018 - 2:05 pm
  38. Polka Theatre
    23rd Jun 2018 - 11:05 am
  39. Polka Theatre
    23rd Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm
  40. Polka Theatre
    24th Jun 2018 - 11:05 am
  41. Polka Theatre
    24th Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm
  42. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    27th Jun 2018 - 9:30 am
  43. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    27th Jun 2018 - 11:15 am
  44. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    27th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm
  45. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    28th Jun 2018 - 9:30 am
  46. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    28th Jun 2018 - 11:15 am
  47. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    28th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm
  48. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    28th Jun 2018 - 4:00 pm
  49. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    29th Jun 2018 - 9:30 am
  50. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    30th Jun 2018 - 11:15 am
  51. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    30th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm
  1. Perseid Upper School, Surrey — 27th Sep 2017 - 10:00 am

    Middleton Road, Morden, SM4 6RU

  2. Perseid Upper School, Surrey — 28th Sep 2017 - 10:00 am

    Middleton Road, Morden, SM4 6RU

  3. Perseid Upper School, Surrey — 9th Oct 2017 - 10:00 am

    Middleton Road, Morden, SM4 6RU

  4. Perseid Upper School, Surrey — 10th Oct 2017 - 10:00 am

    Middleton Road, Morden, SM4 6RU

  5. Perseid Upper School, Surrey — 11th Oct 2017 - 10:00 am

    Middleton Road, Morden, SM4 6RU

  6. Corbets Tey School — 6th Mar 2018 - 11:00 am

    Harwood Hall Lane, Upminster, RM14 2YQ

  7. Corbets Tey School — 6th Mar 2018 - 1:30 pm

    Harwood Hall Lane, Upminster, RM14 2YQ

  8. Lansdowne School — 9th Mar 2018 - 2:15 pm

    7 Argyll Cl, London, SW9 9QL

  9. Heartlands, Redruth — 14th Mar 2018 - 11:00 am

    Robinson's Shaft, Dundance Lane, Pool Redruth, Cornwall, TR15 3QY

  10. Victoria Education Centre, Poole — 16th Mar 2018 - 2:00 pm

    12 Lindsay Road, Poole, BH13 6AS

  11. Sir Tom Finney Community High School — 19th Mar 2018 - 10:00 am

    Preston

  12. Warden's Trust Centre, Suffolk — 14th Apr 2018 - 11:00 am

    Ness House, Sizewell, Suffolk, IP16 4UB

  13. The Valley School — 17th Apr 2018 - 11:00 am

    Valley Way, Stevenage, SG2 9AB

  14. Castle School, Cambridge — 18th Apr 2018 - 2:00 pm

    Courtney Way, Cambridge, CB4 2EE

  15. National Star College, Cheltenham — 26th Apr 2018 - 11:45 am

    Ullenwood, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9QU

  16. Stage Two, Norwich Theatre Royal — 5th May 2018 - 11:00 am

    18 Chantry Rd, Norwich , NR2 1RF

  17. Norfolk Park Primary School, Sheffield — 11th May 2018 - 10:00 am

    Sheffield, S2 3QF

  18. Fairview School, Perth — 17th May 2018 - 1:30 pm

    Fairview School, Oakbank Crescent, Perth, PH1 1DF

  19. York Theatre Royal — 2nd Jun 2018 - 11:00 am

    YO1 7HD

  20. Sandside Lodge School — 7th Jun 2018 - 11:00 am

    Sandside Road, Ulverston, LA12 9EF

  21. Highfurlong School, Blackpool — 8th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm

    Blackpool Old Road, Blackpool, FY3 7LR

  22. Polka Theatre — 13th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  23. Polka Theatre — 13th Jun 2018 - 1:05 pm

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  24. Polka Theatre — 14th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  25. Polka Theatre — 14th Jun 2018 - 1:05 pm

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  26. Polka Theatre — 15th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  27. Polka Theatre — 15th Jun 2018 - 1:05 pm

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  28. Polka Theatre — 16th Jun 2018 - 11:05 am

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  29. Polka Theatre — 16th Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  30. Polka Theatre — 17th Jun 2018 - 11:05 am

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  31. Polka Theatre — 17th Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  32. Polka Theatre — 20th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  33. Polka Theatre — 20th Jun 2018 - 2:05 pm

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  34. Polka Theatre — 21st Jun 2018 - 10:35 am

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  35. Polka Theatre — 21st Jun 2018 - 2:05 pm

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  36. Polka Theatre — 22nd Jun 2018 - 10:35 am

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  37. Polka Theatre — 22nd Jun 2018 - 2:05 pm

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  38. Polka Theatre — 23rd Jun 2018 - 11:05 am

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  39. Polka Theatre — 23rd Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  40. Polka Theatre — 24th Jun 2018 - 11:05 am

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  41. Polka Theatre — 24th Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm

    240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London , SW19 1SB

  42. Philharmonie Luxemburg — 27th Jun 2018 - 9:30 am

    1 Place de l'Europe, 1499 Luxemburg City

  43. Philharmonie Luxemburg — 27th Jun 2018 - 11:15 am

    1 Place de l'Europe, 1499 Luxemburg City

  44. Philharmonie Luxemburg — 27th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm

    1 Place de l'Europe, 1499 Luxemburg City

  45. Philharmonie Luxemburg — 28th Jun 2018 - 9:30 am

    1 Place de l'Europe, 1499 Luxemburg City

  46. Philharmonie Luxemburg — 28th Jun 2018 - 11:15 am

    1 Place de l'Europe, 1499 Luxemburg City

  47. Philharmonie Luxemburg — 28th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm

    1 Place de l'Europe, 1499 Luxemburg City

  48. Philharmonie Luxemburg — 28th Jun 2018 - 4:00 pm

    1 Place de l'Europe, 1499 Luxemburg City

  49. Philharmonie Luxemburg — 29th Jun 2018 - 9:30 am

    1 Place de l'Europe, 1499 Luxemburg City

  50. Philharmonie Luxemburg — 30th Jun 2018 - 11:15 am

    1 Place de l'Europe, 1499 Luxemburg City

  51. Philharmonie Luxemburg — 30th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm

    1 Place de l'Europe, 1499 Luxemburg City

Featured Crew

Tim Yealland

Tim Yealland

Director

Tim read English at Cambridge, then studied singing at the Guildhall and the Munich Hochschule . His performing career included roles in opera and theatre, including work for Opera Factory, Opera 80, ENO, ROH, Opera North and Chichester Festival. His passion for education has led him to devise and direct projects for all the main opera companies, and many others here and abroad. He has led the education work at ETO since 2003, bringing a particular commitment to integrating special and mainstream schools. He has created 3 community operas for ETO: One Breath (Sheffield), A House on the Moon (Wolverhampton) and One Day Two Dawns (Cornwall). He has also written the libretti for several operas for young people, including Voithia and In the Belly of the Horse.

Pete Letanka

Pete Letanka

Composer

Sophia Lovell Smith

Sophia Lovell Smith

Designer

Cast

Abigail Kelly

Abigail Kelly

Having initially trained at Birmingham Conservatoire, Abigail completed her operatic studies at the RCS. Performances with ETO include Naiad Rusalka, Cobweb A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Despina Cosi fan tutte. As a recitalist Abigail has performed with Opera South Africa and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra as well as solo recitals at St John Smith Square and across the Caribbean. Abigail’s work includes roles in many children’s operas including the award winning Laika the Spacedog. Abigail is grateful to the Peter Moores Foundation, English Touring Opera and Chris Ball for bursaries to further her professional development.

Bradley Travis

Bradley Travis

Bradley Travis was born in Cheshire and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal College of Music International Opera School. He has won the Garsington Opera Leonard Ingrams Award and is a Samling Artist.

Roles performed include Figaro Le nozze di Figaro (Opera North), Bunthorne Patience and Betto Gianni Schicchi (ETO), Siegfried Sassoon in Roxanna Panufnik’s Silver Birch (Garsington Opera), Angelotti Tosca (Birgitta Festival), Masetto Don Giovanni (Classical Opera, Opera Project and ETO) plus Robin Oakapple Ruddigore and Strephon Iolanthe (National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company).

Bradley is also heavily involved in education and community, working as the Associate Artist (Education) at English Touring Opera to devise and perform operas for children.

Joanna Marie Skillett

Joanna Marie Skillett

“Both children and support staff loved the performance. It was interesting, fun and creative. A lovely story that the students could follow. The students loved it and were engaged throughout. They loved the music/songs, interacting with the performers and becoming part of the show. A fantastic performance that enabled all students to access and enjoy.

— Claire Hatton, teacher of a boys’ group aged 7-11 with visual impairment and additional needs

Very engaging and interactive. Having lots of things to do during the performance really brought it to life and ‘meeting the real cast’ was particularly great for the students. [The students were given] exposure to opera singing in an accessible format (i.e. not just sitting still and listening). An exciting sense of being part of the production. A massive thank you from everyone!

— Nick Atkins, teacher of students aged 11-16

Showing At

  1. Perseid Upper School, Surrey
    27th Sep 2017 - 10:00 am
  2. Perseid Upper School, Surrey
    28th Sep 2017 - 10:00 am
  3. Perseid Upper School, Surrey
    9th Oct 2017 - 10:00 am
  4. Perseid Upper School, Surrey
    10th Oct 2017 - 10:00 am
  5. Perseid Upper School, Surrey
    11th Oct 2017 - 10:00 am
  6. Corbets Tey School
    6th Mar 2018 - 11:00 am
  7. Corbets Tey School
    6th Mar 2018 - 1:30 pm
  8. Lansdowne School
    9th Mar 2018 - 2:15 pm
  9. Heartlands, Redruth
    14th Mar 2018 - 11:00 am
  10. Victoria Education Centre, Poole
    16th Mar 2018 - 2:00 pm
  11. Sir Tom Finney Community High School
    19th Mar 2018 - 10:00 am
  12. Warden's Trust Centre, Suffolk
    14th Apr 2018 - 11:00 am
  13. The Valley School
    17th Apr 2018 - 11:00 am
  14. Castle School, Cambridge
    18th Apr 2018 - 2:00 pm
  15. National Star College, Cheltenham
    26th Apr 2018 - 11:45 am
  16. Stage Two, Norwich Theatre Royal
    5th May 2018 - 11:00 am
  17. Norfolk Park Primary School, Sheffield
    11th May 2018 - 10:00 am
  18. Fairview School, Perth
    17th May 2018 - 1:30 pm
  19. York Theatre Royal
    2nd Jun 2018 - 11:00 am
  20. Sandside Lodge School
    7th Jun 2018 - 11:00 am
  21. Highfurlong School, Blackpool
    8th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm
  22. Polka Theatre
    13th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  23. Polka Theatre
    13th Jun 2018 - 1:05 pm
  24. Polka Theatre
    14th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  25. Polka Theatre
    14th Jun 2018 - 1:05 pm
  26. Polka Theatre
    15th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  27. Polka Theatre
    15th Jun 2018 - 1:05 pm
  28. Polka Theatre
    16th Jun 2018 - 11:05 am
  29. Polka Theatre
    16th Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm
  30. Polka Theatre
    17th Jun 2018 - 11:05 am
  31. Polka Theatre
    17th Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm
  32. Polka Theatre
    20th Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  33. Polka Theatre
    20th Jun 2018 - 2:05 pm
  34. Polka Theatre
    21st Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  35. Polka Theatre
    21st Jun 2018 - 2:05 pm
  36. Polka Theatre
    22nd Jun 2018 - 10:35 am
  37. Polka Theatre
    22nd Jun 2018 - 2:05 pm
  38. Polka Theatre
    23rd Jun 2018 - 11:05 am
  39. Polka Theatre
    23rd Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm
  40. Polka Theatre
    24th Jun 2018 - 11:05 am
  41. Polka Theatre
    24th Jun 2018 - 2:35 pm
  42. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    27th Jun 2018 - 9:30 am
  43. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    27th Jun 2018 - 11:15 am
  44. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    27th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm
  45. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    28th Jun 2018 - 9:30 am
  46. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    28th Jun 2018 - 11:15 am
  47. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    28th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm
  48. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    28th Jun 2018 - 4:00 pm
  49. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    29th Jun 2018 - 9:30 am
  50. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    30th Jun 2018 - 11:15 am
  51. Philharmonie Luxemburg
    30th Jun 2018 - 2:00 pm

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