Red Hat Opera Workshop

Collaborating with Streetwise Opera

Red Hat Opera are proud to have collaborated with Streetwise Opera on the project Blue Shangri-La , which was inspired by the work of the composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. It was created using improvisational techniques that allow one to create freely.

Streetwise Opera is an award-winning performing arts charity, using creativity and singing to inspire and empower people who are experiencing homelessness and recovering from homelessness.

Blue Shangri-La is a collaboration between participants at both Red Hat Opera and Streetwise Opera, taking place at the Southbank Centre. They got together to devise a collection of poems, songs and graphic scores that were fundamental to the performance which was based on the opera Donnerstag (meaning Thursday in German). In this opera, the main protagonist, Michael, visits some countries and cities from around the world, including: New York City, Japan, India, Africa and finally the point of arrival – which we called ‘Blue Shangri-La’. The group created improvisational pieces based on the sensations of travelling to each of these places, led by a ‘conductor’ from the group. You can listen to the improvisations here:

_{The graphic scores used to inspire improvised vocalisation}

And here are some examples of collaborative and individual writing from the devising sessions:

Group poem:

I’m going somewhere – a break from my everyday reality. Feeling free, leaving behind all baggage; cares and worries fade. Meeting new friends, experience new cultures, new places, the sea, nature. New perspective of life and inner peace. At last we will live free.

Individual poems:

I couldn’t wait for the time to start my tour, what a perfect sunny day for my best travel. Surprised and happy to see a clear sky, and a beautiful shore like that. I’ll freeze time here in this beautiful place, and never lose it.

Melancholic. Impeded. Forlorn. Solitary. Pensive. Philosophical. Stayed too long. Time has come to venture forth whatever tomorrow brings. Leaving behind my old ‘skin’, not fearing cold weather. My fears as a fantasy; I was welcomed, I was reborn. There will be a purpose. Time has become so precious.

The end of the journey:

What you’re looking for is right where you’re standing. It’s been here all along, though it’s your gaze that has changed. You’ve changed your spectacles and cleared the smudged window. Perhaps the place changes as your perspective does. Find your perspective and you’ll find your place.

Our very first performance!

We were very excited to share our work with the general public. After working hard on structured group improvisations and individual arias, we put it all together into one show titled ‘The Whisper of Extraordinary Fish’. We presented the show at the wonderful art space Iklectik.

Photography: Susanne Diesner. Flyer design: Ipek Biserova

The show had three different scenes, based around different aspects of community: city life, the state of the ocean and environment and a PARTY! It was such a joy to see all the hard work that the members of the group coming to fruition. The audience was enthusiastic and joined us on stage for the final sing-along and dance.

We would like to thank Theatre Delicatessen that gave us the space to run the workshops and create our work, Ipek Biserova (research assistant) who assisted in running the workshops and adding her brilliant performance skills and violin playing, the Iklectik art space team for being such brilliant hosts, Elise Lorraine (who is also a member of the group) running the vocal warm-ups, UEL and Trinity Laban who supported the realisation of the performance, and all the members of the group for their endless energy, creativity and positive approach!

Looking forward to more creativity and performances to come!

We are: RED HAT OPERA

Opera, improvisation and empowerment

Creating and sustaining a community built on empathetic relationships that promote emotional wellbeing, health, motivation, communication and a safe space to be you.

Welcome to our blog, where we will be sharing sounds, images and interviews from our Create An Opera! workshop series.

Create An Opera! is a fortnightly devising workshop facilitated by Guy Harries at Theatre Delicatessen Studios in London. It is free to the general public and has attracted participants including both experienced and inexperienced performance practitioners. It aims to create a safe, inclusive environment for experimentation in writing, composition and collaborative performance.

The workshop is the brainchild of Guy Harries – composer, sound artist and performer, working with electronics, acoustic instruments, voice and multimedia. He is also an educator, facilitator and researcher, exploring the use of live electronics in music with a focus on dramaturgy, the performative and audience participation. In his work he has also focused on the connection between opera and the socio-political, and his chamber operas and multimedia work explore themes such as the plight of child-soldiers, migration and the conflict in the Middle East.

But why?

Challenge the socio-political traditions and hierarchical infrastructures associated with opera production.
Build a safe space that cultivates creation, creativity and community.
Demonstrate the real-world influence of our workshops.
Challenge traditional notions of opera-making, breaking boundaries of single roles, economic status, cultural capital, aesthetic conventions and institutional frameworks

The participants make this project what it is, creating a dynamic space of creativity and play. You’ll find nothing like it.

We are indebted to the wonderful Theatre Deli in London for their support, providing precious space for rehearsal and creation through their Flexispace scheme.