The education department of Scottish Opera has been working since 2010 on commissioning and producing a new music theatre piece to celebrate Glasgow’s hosting of the 2014 Commonwealth Games with partners from India, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Botswana. We have commissioned composer Dr Pippa Murphy to write the musical score and the acclaimed Scottish novelist Alexander McCall Smith to write the lyrics.

The world premiere performance will take place in the Theatre Royal Glasgow on 25th July 2014.

The major theme of performance piece is friendship: looking at the common ties which bind all people of whatever age, and wherever they make their homes; new friendships – and those which last a lifetime; friendships between people who live many thousands of miles apart. Glasgow often calls itself ‘the friendly city’ and you may be aware that the Commonwealth Games is often described as ‘the friendly Games’ – so it seems very appropriate for us to create a piece that celebrates such a crucial part of humanity.

The performances will involve around 120 singers, performers and instrumentalists – both professionals and drawn from a range of communities across the city.

We are looking for children to join an on-stage Community Chorus, which will also include adult singers from Scottish Opera’s Community Choir, as well as children and adults from the Maryhill Integration Network. Children must be aged from 8-11 years and should be available for the majority of the workshops and all of the rehearsals outlined on the page overleaf.

Auditions for places in the chorus will be held on Saturday 8th March 2014. The audition will take the form of a group workshop, including music, drama, and some movement activities which we hope will be a fun & stimulating experience.

Please see overleaf a list of all the dates on which the child would be scheduled to attend workshops and rehearsals. The family should be aware of this and the fact that many of the rehearsals will take place during the summer holidays. It’s also important to stress that this list may be revised to as the rehearsal process continues.

Please contact Rimgaile Rimeikaite at rimgaile.rimeikaite@scottishopera.org.uk or on 0141 332 9559 by Thursday 6th March for more information and to obtain audition forms.

Please note that audition spaces are limited so applicants will be selected on a first-come basis.

Anamchara – Songs of Friendship

Workshops:

Thu 24 April | 1800-2000 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Thu 1 May | 1800-2000 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Thu 8 May | 1800-2000 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Thu 15 May | 1800-2000 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Thu 22 May | 1800-2000 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Thu 29 May | 1800-2000 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Thu 5 June | 1800-2000 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Thu 12 June | 1800-2000 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Thu 19 June | 1800-2000 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Thu 26 June | 1800-2000 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Rehearsals:

Wed 2 July | 1300-1600 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street Thu 3 July | 1400-1700 & 1800 - 2100 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Tue 8 July | 1830-2130 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street Wed 9 July | 1430-1730 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street Thu 10 July | 1030-1330 & 1430-1730 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Fri 11 July | 1030-1330 & 1430-1730 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Sat 12 July | 1030-1330 & 1430-1730 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Mon 14 July | 1430-1730 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Tue 15 July | 1430-1730 | Scottish Opera Production Studios, Edington Street

Stage Rehearsals & Performances:

Wed 16 July | 1430-1730 & 1900-2200 | Theatre Royal

Thu 17 July | 1000-1300 & 1430-1730 | Theatre Royal

Fri 18 July | 1000-1300 & 1430-1730 | Theatre Royal

Sat 19 July | 1000-1300 & 1430-1730 | Theatre Royal

Tue 22 July | 1430-1730 & 1900-2200 | Theatre Royal

Wed 23 July | Time, activity & venue TBC

Thu 24 July | 1430-1730 | Theatre Royal

Fri 25 July | 1230-1530 (Preview performance 1400) & 1700-1930 (Performance 1830) | Theatre Royal

Sat 26 July | 1300-1530 (Performance 1430) & 1700-1930 (Performance 1830) | Theatre Royal

Sun 27 July | 1300-1530 (Performance 1430) | Theatre Royal

Please note that strobe lighting will be used during this production.