A fantastic collaboration between five Middlesbrough-based organisations, who created, rehearsed and performed a folk opera celebrating the people who have made the town their home. 

Who got together?

North East Opera - a company that offers exciting opportunities for performers of any age and all backgrounds, through workshops, rehearsals, concerts, and theatrical productions.
MAP (Methodist Asylum Project) - offers practical support and social opportunities to those seeking asylum in Middlesbrough, and to refugees.
Middlesbrough Town Hall Community Choir - a friendly and accessible group that enjoys singing for fun. Their weekly sessions explore vocal technique through a mixture of world and folk, operatic, and musical theatre songs.
MusInc - provides opportunities in Middlesbrough for people of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances to make music, connect with others and explore their musical identity.
Middlesbrough College - offers a wide range of courses for both school-leavers and adults.

Why did they form a partnership?

To create an hour-long folk opera, arranged and fully scored for choir, soloists, piano, organ, violin, guitar, drums and kirar (pictured). 

Funded by the Know Your Neighbourhood programme, the aim of the project was to unite people through song, dance and stories, helping to foster a sense of community.

For generations, families in Middlesbrough have migrated from elsewhere, and now they all call Middlesbrough home.

What happened?

Over the course of six months, North East Opera ran weekly singing workshops at Middlesbrough Town Hall and the Methodist Asylum Project, as well as working with Performing Arts students from Middlesbrough College. 

They collected stories and songs, from people both ‘local’ to Middlesbrough and those newly relocated, to create a folk opera in which songs in different languages from around the world blended seamlessly into one another. 

What else did the partnership achieve?

“The weekly sessions, devising days, dress rehearsal and final performance created an important sense of community and belonging between groups that would not necessarily interact,” says director and workshop leader, David Pisaro. “New friendships were formed within and across all the groups. Social activities were planned outside of the workshops and rehearsals, and various members accessed other groups and activities beyond what we were offering.

“A better understanding and interest in other cultures was also cultivated amongst the groups, as well as a feeling of compassion and empathy for those who had to leave their countries and found themselves in Middlesbrough.”

Hear from some of the people who took part in the project

Why partnerships can make a difference 

“Working with other organisations was an exciting and positive experience that made for a very different approach to how we normally work,” says David. “Our main objective was to bring communities together, and this was always at the heart of all our decision-making and planning. It was not just about singing and performance but encouraging a sense of belonging and friendship building, and a better understanding of different cultures and communities. 

"From working with young college students to elderly choir members, our aim was always to bring a feeling of unity and camaraderie amongst all the groups and across the different organisations. Having meals together, chatting over a cup of tea, walking home together or sharing a lift after a rehearsal was just as crucial and important as the singing and performance element."

And here are some highlights of what they achieved together!

What next?

“We fully intend to work with all the partners again in the future,” says David. “We will continue to run weekly workshops at the Town Hall with North East Opera and with MAP, and our links with MusInc remain constant through our work with the Town Hall Community Choir. We have already been in discussions with Middlesbrough College about future projects they would like to be a part of with North East Opera.”