Livya and Shamini are on work experience this week, working with ENO Baylis. They are writing a daily blog on their experiences at ENO and especially this week’s project based on Janáček’s opera, Jenufa. Both are talking with the other young people taking part in the project and finding out about how the production is coming along. Livya and Shamini are Year 10 students from Kingsbury High School, a 2015 Opera Squad school.

Friday, 29 July 2016:

As today is performance day for the students’ take on the Jenufa opera, technical adjustments (lighting and sound) and rehearsals for the performers and musicians are taking place. Livya had the lucky experience to help out with the lighting technicalities and seemed to be the focus of attention when they were testing it out to see what would be effective to the audience. Every song, scene and drawing has been completed and everyone is excited to just be practising in giving the best performance possible. We have been working on setting up an area where all friends, family and guests can see the progress made during this project and see pictures of some of the workshops. This is to celebrate their success along the week and see how hard they’ve worked.

This week has been an amazing experience and we are so thankful we were able to be a part of this project. We haven’t seen much of the performance but we are certain it is going to be absolutely incredible as everyone has been working really hard. The leaders and staff deserve a massive round of applause too as none of this would be possible without their help and effort (so thank you!).

We would love to be back to help around again and I think we’re even considering taking part in the project next time! Good luck to all the performers and thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to have this amazing opportunity! It will not be forgotten and we’ll be upset to leave but the show must go on! Toi, toi, toi.