School of Education news

Glyndebourne Opera House Visit

Secondary art and design and modern foreign language PGCE students were treated to a visit to Glyndebourne Opera House, just outside of Lewes, for a special showing of Mozart’s ‘Die Entführung aus dem Serail’.

The performance was dedicated specifically to schools, filling Glyndebourne’s world-famous auditorium entirely with students ranging from Year 4 up to sixth form. The scheme, supported by the Arts Council, has been running at Glyndebourne since 2006 introducing children to theatre and the arts, making it accessible to everyone and allowing them to experience all the emotion, spectacle and intensity of an opera in full length and fully staged.Glyndebourne tour artwork

The visit was a fantastic opportunity for students to look at materials produced by Glyndebourne Opera for schools, as well as focus on subject links such as set design, costume, links with numeracy and literacy, and critical studies including looking at different art forms, architecture, design and costume from different cultures. It also allowed the students to experience ways of introducing children to opera and how they can be inspired by the art forms.

As part of an ongoing contribution to their e-portfolios, students were asked to provide critical reflection of the day:

Greta Wallner
“I thought it was incredible that Glyndebourne had programmed a performance just for school children, especially as for many of us it was the first time attending an opera.

Introducing such a young and diverse group to art and culture through theatre has shown me how it could influence them in positive ways that encourages them to revisit these places again as an adult.

The experience gained outside of school cannot be substituted in a classroom. Students (and teachers) get to know each other, learn and grow in a context outside of school and can develop communication skills, interpersonal skills, self-confidence and resilience.

In a less formal learning environment, certain students who may struggle in a classroom context could do very well in a practical, ‘real-life’, wider world situation like a school trip. No matter how much students learn on a school trip, they are events that will always be highly anticipated and in a less formal environment, students learn in a more fun and enjoyable way”.

Eluiza Langley
“I have always been very interested in theatre, costume and sets, so was thrilled when the opportunity came up to see a production at Glyndebourne as part of my PGCE course. It was great to see everyone embrace the sense of occasion by wearing beautiful clothes to mark the occasion.

I had wondered what the younger members of the audience would make of the story, not only because it would be told in song, but also because it was in German with subtitles.
Would they understand and enjoy it?

Their reaction to some of the more adult scenes was entertaining as they went wild screaming with laughter, which of course the performers played up to. Their reaction helped to enrich the performance and it was a wonderful experience.

After the performance I had the chance to speak with some GCSE art students who were from my work placement school. It was interesting to hear that they had also enjoyed the experience, and had no issues understanding the plot regardless of the language barrier.

Cultural experiences are so important for children who may never have had the chance to experience one before. They can change your whole perception in what human kind can create with imagination, skill and knowledge.

I really hope I can return to the schools performance next year with my own art students”.

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Christina Camm • March 2, 2016


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