A new commission by English Touring Opera for children aged 4 - 8, Back into the World has been created to respond to many of the challenges children have faced during the past year: missing friends, increased anxiety, disruptions to learning, challenges understanding emotions and isolation. We’ll take them on an interactive, participatory adventure, making music together, exploring friendship, sharing, teamwork and diversity, and discovering the natural world.

The story follows Lexi who comes from Exie. Life in Exie is by all accounts perfect – just look at the happy-o-meter – but Lexi yearns for adventure. A horrible noise troubles the town of Exie, and in turn the happy-o-meter plummets. Lexi sets off on her adventure to save the town and learn more about herself and others along the way. She meets the nonsense-talking Wee-Whys, the wise and wonderful Everywhere, and learns how working together through music can save the day and turn the nasty noise into something beautiful.

The piece is composed by Alex Groves, written and directed by Rebecca Hanbury and designed by Rebecca Wood. Alongside public theatre performances, the opera will tour to primary schools around the country.