How W11 Opera Works

Registration for the full production is £250 per child. This fee is heavily subsidised as it costs approximately £1500 per child to create a production (£1000 when we are online).  We ask that any parents who can afford to do so selects the £500 registration. This will allow us to offer a bursary place to a cast member who would otherwise not be able to experience being part of W11 Opera. 

We offer full bursaries to 25% of our cast. If you would like your child to be considered for a bursary, please select and complete the bursary application at the end of the registration form. Because bursary places are limited these usually need to be applied for earlier than the registration closing date (in 2021 this by the 6th August) and will be confirmed as soon as possible after that date. All application information is confidential and your ability to pay will in no way effect casting.

Auditions take place in the first week of September (see link to the Rehearsal Schedule below for more details).

We ask you to prepare an unaccompanied song of your choice. Something you love that shows off your voice and acting talent! We may also send you a page of dialogue which you might be asked to read (this does not need to be memorised but do make sure you know it well enough to be able to act and look up from the page).

Everyone who registers is offered a place in this year’s company and a role in the production. Auditions simply allow us to see how best we can showcase your talents.

Once casting is completed, you will receive a vocal score, performers pack (which includes everything you’ll need for the rehearsal period) & your costume after the auditions as well as learning videos and backing tracks to help you practice your role in the comfort of your own home.

Rehearsal times will be emailed weekly.  You will also be asked to record your work throughout the rehearsal schedule and the online and in-person sessions will support you through this process so you’ll know exactly what to do and how to best present your performance.

Rehearsals take place on Mondays for all cast members (with some Tuesdays for small ensemble/solo music coaching) before autumn half term.  After half term we continue with full company rehearsals on Mondays but add dialogue calls on Tuesdays & Sundays.

Our performances normally take place on the second weekend in December at POSK in Hammersmith which is a professional theatre.  Our final week of rehearsals takes place at the theatre so, in addition to performances at the weekend, the cast will be called for Tuesday - Friday evenings of the previous week (when we are in person). We do two preview performances/dress rehearsals to specially invited guests including other young people from local schools and the some of the elderly residents in the community.

Volunteers play an important role at W11 Opera and we rely heavily on parents to volunteer both during rehearsals at St James's Church and at POSK.

W11 Opera is overseen by a group of voluntary Trustees. Our day-to-day running is managed by a professional Company Manager and artistic management falls under the remit of our Artistic Director who both report directly to the Board of Trustees.

Our Creative Team are freelance professionals but we require volunteers to work alongside them to support their work:

Team Positions:

• Fundraising Team

• Social Media Team

• Alumni Team

• Commissioning Team

• Projects Team/Education & Outreach

Individual Roles:

• Rehearsal Room Manager

• Group Parents

Volunteers are essential to the running and survival of W11 Opera and most parents volunteer while their child/children are performing with the company.  We cannot function without this substantial support.

If you are interested in volunteering or taking part in an internship please email w11@w11opera.org

Many families find their commitment to W11 Opera becoming a real family affair with all the siblings taking part as cast members and with parents volunteering to support our work. We as a company foster a supportive and caring culture - passion, participation, performance, and many cast members remain with us for several years.

We have a Paper Plate Prize badge which can be awarded to anyone involved with our work for outstanding commitment in any field. Cast who have performed in nine shows (the maximum possible within our age group) receive a GOLD badge, eight shows SILVER and seven shows BRONZE but hard work and commitment are as highly prized as talent and excellence at W11 Opera.

We have thousands of Alumni from the last 50 years and encourage previous cast members to sign up for our mailing list, follow us on social media and join our new Alumni Team so you don’t miss out on any W11 Opera news!

If all this sounds like something you'd like to be part of, please check back later in the year or join our mailing list on our 'Contact Us' page.  In the meantime check out our YouTube Channel below.