INO Schools Programme

Bring Your School Group to Irish National Opera

At Irish National Opera, we welcome school groups to join us for a memorable experience at our productions throughout the season, all at a special rate.

Opera is a rich and cross-curricular art form that seamlessly weaves together music, theatre, visual arts, movement, history, politics, literature, and more to tell a captivating and cohesive story. It's a fantastic opportunity for students to explore multiple dimensions of the arts in one incredible performance.

Enhancing the Educational Experience

After the huge success of their inaugural INO Schools Programme that saw over 300 students attend workshops and performances of four different operas, Irish National Opera are delighted to announce that they will be continuing a reduced rate tickets + workshop deal for their 24/25 season. Before schools come to see the opera live, INO will provide a cross-curriculum workshop providing context to the piece to ensure students get the most out of their visit to the opera. A special resource pack for each production will also be provided to teachers, packed full of information, handy links, audio clips and activities to aid class-based discussion before seeing the show.

Find out more about our 2024/25 School Opera Workshops:

Verdi’s Rigoletto + workshop in school - SOLD OUT

Hunchback jesters? Lascivious dukes? Assassins with funny names? What’s not to love in Verdi’s epic and blood thirsty tale of murder and revenge? Students will take part in a 90-minute workshop that explores the opera in more context and take a stab (excuse the pun) at one of Verdi’s most renowned works: La donna e mobile (woman is fickle). Please note, INO does not support any ideas expressed in this aria...

  • Who’s it for?: TY & Senior Cycle
  • When is the workshop?: Week of 25 November 2024
  • Where: Your school!
  • Performance date & location: 3 December 2024, Bord Gais Energy Theatre
  •  SOLD OUT

Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman + workshop in school 

Set sail for high seas in INO’s very first Wagnerian production! The Flying Dutchman tells the tale of the legendary ghost ship that is doomed to sail the sea forever. Students will take a look at what sets works by Wagner apart from other operas and learn about the exciting and dangerous sea crossing that Wagner took that inspired him to write this extraordinary work. Strong sea legs are advised.

  • Who’s it for?: All years
  • When is the workshop?: Week of 17 March 2025
  • Where: Your school!
  • Performance date & location: 27 March 2025, Bord Gais Energy Theatre
  • Join the waiting list

Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore + workshop in school

If you hate it when you get duped by a quack doctor into buying a love potion that’s actually cheap red wine, in the hopes that it’ll win you the love of a beautiful woman miles out of your league, then boy do we have an opera for you! Students will take a deep dive into Donizetti’s light-hearted and incredibly beautiful opera, learning how this work launched the career of the famous Neapolitan tenor Caruso and why audiences begged him to sing the now famous Una furtiva lagrima (a furtive tear) three times before allowing him to carry on the performance! Disclaimer: For the safety and sanity of students and teachers alike, neither red wine nor love potions will be provided.

  • Who’s it for?: Ty & Senior Cycle
  • When is the workshop?: Week of 19 May 2025
  • Where: Your school!
  • Performance date & location: 27 May 2025, Gaiety Theatre
  • Sign up here

MORE INFO

The cost of this will be €10 per student and we now offer a complimentary ticket for teachers for every 10 students attending. Tickets to each performance are limited so we are operating on a first come, first serve basis. Sign up now to avoid disappointment!

For further information please contact info@irishnationalopera.ie

Can’t make it to Dublin but still want to take part in the work INO do? Never fear, we are now offering a great opportunity to bring our virtual reality opera Out of the Ordinary/As an gNách directly to your school!

Merivale’s Out of the Ordinary/As an gNách
– In school virtual reality screening + workshop

Bring the opera itself to your school! Out of the Ordinary/As an gNách is the world’s first virtual reality community opera. This bi-lingual opera is experienced in a virtual reality headset. Written by communities around Ireland, the opera tells the story of a collection of people trying to find land, only to encounter a powerful spirit. This experience is well-suited for schools who may have difficulty getting to Dublin so this package is open to schools across Ireland. No technical requirements are needed and subtitles for the opera are available both in English and as Gaeilge. In addition to the screening, we offer a free workshop on the day exploring careers in the arts.

  • Who’s it for?: TY
  • When is the workshop and screening?: Any time, you set the date!
  • Where: Your school!

For enquiries, please email james@irishnationalopera.ie

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