Purple Tuesday, on 2 November, celebrates improving the shopping experience for disabled people, raising awareness of their needs.
Opera North and its Access Ambassador Victoria Leeds will be joining forces to present an operatic treat in the Victoria Quarter, following on from Opera North’s successful dementia-friendly performance of Carmen at Leeds Grand Theatre.
Whistle Stop Opera: The Magic Flute starts at 11.30am. It’s suitable for all ages and packs so much into just 30 minutes: thought-provoking adventurous and enchanting,, the performance highlights the issue of climate change through storytelling. Be captivated as you are taken through Tamino’s mission to win the hand of Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night. Soprano Emily Loftus, tenor Nicholas Watts and baritone Timothy Nelson will be joined by an accordion player to provide the music.
Alice Gilmour, Opera North Community Partnership & Access Manager: “We aim to give everybody the chance to enjoy at first hand the pleasure and feelings of wellbeing that singing and live performance can bring. By taking opera away from the stage and into the wonderful environs of the Victoria Quarter, we hope to bring the world of opera within everyone’s reach and to provide a memorable experience for anyone shopping that day. Our partnership with Victoria Leeds is so important to us in making sure all our work is accessible, through supporting audio described, signed and dementia friendly performances, to attending to the smaller details like providing captioning on digital singing sessions, or braille or audio versions of documents for customers or participants with access needs.”
Jo Coburn, General Manager at Victoria Leeds: “We are really passionate about making a positive impact in the community and this includes creating experiences which can be enjoyed by everyone. Purple Tuesday is a great initiative and we look forward to celebrating it with this special performance from Opera North amid the backdrop of Victoria Gate’s grand arcades.”
Opera North is also committed to making its work accessible in the theatre, offering a range of different performances, including audio described, signed, captioned and dementia friendly: www.operanorth.co.uk/access/
Feature photograph: Soprano Emily Loftus.
