Ring Round The World – English Pocket Opera Company (EPOC)

June 6, 2012 - PRLog -- English Pocket Opera Company (EPOC) has been creating opera for, by and with children for over ten years. They are celebrating the London Olympics 2012 by creating, performing and recording the biggest children’s opera ever known. In collaboration with composer Pete Churchill and teams of musicians, percussionists, and choreographers, EPOC will present performances of a spectacular new jazz opera in 6 theatres with over 200 schools – one for each Olympic nation.

Part of the London 2012 Festival (the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad) ‘Ring Round the World’has been commissioned from renowned composer and music educationalist Pete Churchill (professor of Jazz at Royal Academy of Music and GSMD), but it will be largely created and performed by children. It is an opera in 173 scenes - one for every major world nation. Working with a professional cast and 173 schools, this thrilling tale of adventure will journey around the world, collecting a ‘ring’ of truth from each place visited, expressed in different musical styles and song, and depicted across 32 fully-staged performances in 6 theatres (4 in London and 2 in Cambridgeshire).

The plot starts and ends in London, visiting China, Greece and Australia at every performance, but our heroes will also visit 6 additional countries in scenes created by children, that will change at each performance. The 173 children’s scenes have been achieved through a 5-step education project, involving school twinning with one specific world nation, teacher-training, interactive performances in schools for 40,000 children, in-depth artist residency work.

Tickets on sale NOW!

Unicorn Theatre*: Monday 21st May – Friday 25th May

Rose Theatre, Kingston*: Tuesday 12th June – Thursday 21st June

Pleasance Theatre, Islington*: Monday 2nd July – Friday 6th July

Broadway Theatre, Barking*: Tuesday 10th July – Wednesday 18th July

West Rd Concert Halls, Cambridge**: Monday 3rd & Thursday 4th July

Comberton Village College Cambs**: Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 5th July

*Performances at 1.30pm, suitable for age 5+
** Performances at 7.00pm, suitable for age 5+