Me and Aidan Edwards. Credit Julie Howden 
Ross Stenhouse, Aidan Edwards, and Me. Credit Julie Howden 
Laura Cioffi. Credit Julie Howden
Part of the joy of this production is the way it reaches so many different people in places and venues that you would not normally associate with opera. It is such a thrill to share our love of the artform with young and old alike, with the added benefit of traveling to some amazing parts of Scotland.
All of this would be so much harder if it were not for the lorry that Scottish Opera had purpose-built to put on these shows. The design of the lorry allows us to be self-sufficient. If needed we have a generator for electricity, (which we’ve not had to use yet).
If there are no changing facilities available to us then we can get changed on the stage behind the curtain like a large shopping changing room.
We have coat hooks on the sides of the trailers to hang out costumes and personal items which can then be hidden behind the black cloth background surrounding the performance space.
All in all, it is an ingenious design and makes the best use of every inch of space, for example, the stools, used by the audience, also double up as storage when the show is traveling to the next venue.
Next week we are off to Old Kilpatrick, Barrhead, Giffnock, Melrose, and North Berwick. Please join us if you are in the area, as we would love to see you in the audience.
Clever! many years ago, I was part of a theatre troupe who would perform in trailers with a pop down side. We would set up in parks and parking lots and hide behind the trailer until it was our time to to go on. It was fun until the rain hit.. Carry on, I would love to see this.
I saw a trailer on Twitter that opened right out to make the room inside four times as big, that would be cool. But I enjoy performing in the intimate space, we go into primary schools too and the children are really enjoying Puffy McPuffer.
I think you’d love it.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Pop up theatre sounds cool and this exhibit can inform many what a great art form this is.
Exactly Tony, I just love sharing with the audiences and it’s been a great learning opportunity for me.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Getting the arts into the community where they are will insure a bright future for your industry.
Looks really exciting Charlotte. How nice to see so many places. It’s a shame your not touring England too. See you soon 😘😘
You’d love this Gill bite size operas with all the best arias. All narrated so you can follow the story.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for the inside look. The trailer looks very effecient.
It is, the whole project has to be designed and project managed very cleverly, the arias from the operas connected smoothly into 35 minute shows, then a short break for the next mini show and again with the third show for children and families. It’s been fascinating for me to see how the narrator keeps the flow and knits the story together.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Excellent.
That’s a magic lorry! And you carry some magic with you. Palms & cows in Scotland! Terrific, I’d say! Good luck & happy road to the whole team! 🙂
I know the palms and cows appealed to me, not a place you’d associate with palm trees but I like how hardy they’ve become. Any time I’m making music and performing I’m happy and the team are a great bunch, we have a laugh.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
🙂
Looks like fun and it looks like it was wet. Great photos on the road with the giant stones. I like the cows in the background, also.
The weather has been changeable 😄 that’s a Scottish summer for you anything can happen.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Now, this is different, eh? Each event in your life seems to be another unique experience!! Isn’t that wonderful!
Very different 😀. I love it, it’s a good thing I can’t drive a 40ft truck or I’d just put my own show on appearing in office car parks at lunch times 😂popping up everywhere hehe. I am joking though the work that goes on to put these shows together is a big undertaking, the attention to detail and organisation is very slick and seamless.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
That’s what I like to call professionalism.
I wasn’t expecting all the palm trees!
They must be hardy now, when the wind blows up here it’s fierce that’s why the power generating windmills do so well. 🌴
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Dear Charlotte,
What a blessing to have the big truck to transport the team around from venue to venue. May the Lord continue to bless you my Beloved for all that you do, just remain true.
Having the support of all my family and friends like you Rev. Tim ensure I stay true to myself. The best enjoyment I’m having with this project is sharing the music and our joy of performing.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Performing out of a trailer gives rather a misleading picture compares with what has been achieved here! Fantastic!
There is so much planning involved, from rearranging the scores, narration, pictures, costumes, logistics, accommodation in the furthest reaches, it’s been really interesting to see the tour develop,
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Wow, really fantastic, very nice !!! All my best wishes for you and your team !! Congrats and all my best thoughts for you my friend !!
Thank you Pascal it’s been great singing with flute and harp and I’ve enjoyed putting the performance together with Aidan and Ross the actor/narrator. Quite a new experience for me.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
How fascinating is this, dear Charlotte!! And so very well organised. Congratulations!
It’s an amazing amount of operational management, I’ve enjoyed learning from my colleagues.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Such a fascinating idea, taking opera on the road. Best wishes to you all. Congratulations!
The company has plenty of experience of this pop up opera and highlights tours in Scotland but it’s been quite a new experience for me.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Your musical trip in a trailer, the mobile opera show sounds fun! Love all the photos you’ve posted. Ingenious idea to bring opera to where the people are!
Exactly, I couldn’t have put it better myself. I would have loved to watch this show if it had popped up in my town, my Mums the sort of person who would have loved for us to go too, she always took me to see the Russian ballet dancers when they showed up in our little town once per year.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
What a clever trailer, Charlotte. It’s like one of those tiny houses with the hidden storage. I can see you have having a great time and getting to see Scotland. I am envious! Keep loving life!
Time is flying by, we’re about halfway through now. Being able to earn a living from performing and keeping people happy is all I’ve really wanted to do 😀.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
What fun, It looks like you will be traveling more and more around Scotland.
Have a great time Charlotte. More tea and Scones.!!!!
I’m seeing places I’ve never heard of before which is always great. Yesterday I went to a new pancake shop and got the works with fresh fruit to make it not seem so naughty, yummy 😋.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Pancakes with fruits sounds great!!
Such fun!
It is Alex, we went to a school the other day and the children their were just so joyful and happy.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
I have such a big smile now
An ingenious concept! Fun on wheels.
I wish you could see it, the shows are good fun 😀.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
What a amazing experience you are having Charlotte…
You will have so many memories throughout your life, enough to write a book
Eventually? I love all the photos too. Xx
I love to look back over the past six years on the blog I forget so much and this keeps my memories alive.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Looks like you are having so much fun!! Thanks for the update x
I love Pop Up Opera, I really do enjoy my job. You’re welcome thanks for visiting 😊.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
This is super Cool, Charlotte. Thank you for sharing the photos. It’s amazing to see different parts of the world. …and the cows are looking at you like: “hey ..what is she doing over there?!” ..why do you have a mustache over your mouth? 🙂
It’s like a rock’n’roll tour! A wonderful experience for you.
I know this is on the shallow side, but your hair is looking marvellous!
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