A Children's Opera and Education Project

A King’s Ransom is an imaginative education project offering children aged 7-11 an empowering first encounter of opera. Into Opera deliver approximately 80 workshops over 16 weeks bringing children into contact with a range of professional artists including a music director, stage director, orchestra, choreographer, designer, librettist, composer and lighting designer. Furthermore, these 4 primary schools have the opportunity to work together to ultimately stage A King’s Ransom an opera written for children to sing by renowned classical composer, Patrick Hawes.

A King’s Ransom… the story:

A King’s Ransom reimagines the story of Robin Hood. But there’s just one problem… where’s Robin? Faced with the threats of the soldiers, and their King imprisoned, what will the villagers do when Robin can’t be found?

This project was launched in Norfolk and ran between September 2017 – February 2018. A thorough evaluation process proved that children participating in A King’s Ransom:

Grew in confidence and self belief
Learnt about discipline and perseverance
Developed their social skills (communication, empathy, building new friendships)
Became strong team players understanding the value of collaboration
Felt proud of themselves and their achievements
Saw the benefits of trying something new

This project also includes an accompanying book of education resources, encouraging teachers to explore A King’s Ransom across the Key Stage Two curriculum.

"This is one of the best projects that we’ve funded since I took up my role as CEO. One of our main aims as a funder is to give young people who are ‘in need of financial assistance’ educational (in the widest sense of the word) opportunities which they would otherwise never have - and to open doors to possibilities that they would otherwise never see. A King’s Ransom so clearly did that."

David Hynes, CEO of Norwich Charitable Trusts

A King’s Ransom has been an exciting way for children to complete Arts Award and useful to contribute towards a school gaining their Arts Mark. To find out more about how our four schools got on in Norfolk take a look at our schools blog which teachers and pupils used to share their A King’s Ransom Journey.

If you would like Into Opera to provide an Artistic Residency in your school or county and to deliver this project, A King’s Ransom, please get in touch: info@into-opera.org.uk

We believe that all children, irrespective of background, deserve to have access to a high quality cultural education and this project promises to provide this. There is an urgent need for high quality, multidisciplinary arts projects to be run professionally in schools and this project promises to do exactly that.

“One child, who is on the autism spectrum, thoroughly threw herself into the project and could recite nearly all of it to me as well as other people’s parts. Through doing this fantastic project a lot of the children have become more confident in themselves, engaging socially with each other as well, building their social skills up, learning not to be afraid to express themselves. I think the whole project has had a very powerful impact on the children.”

A teacher

“I’ve been inspired so much to be my best and give everything a go.”

“I feel really proud of myself. A bit like I’ve conquered the world.”

Children

“My son absolutely adored his experience with the opera. He went from having very little interest in the performing arts prior to the start of the project, to a child who is always singing around the house, and proudly mentioning to anyone who will listen that he’s been “in an opera.” For a child who sometimes struggles with issues of focus and self-esteem, this has been an amazing leap forward for him.”