TURTLE OPERA IS A DRAMA AND MUSIC PROJECT FOR 10-14 YEAR OLDS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. ORIGINALLY A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE AND TURTLE KEY ARTS, STARTING IN 2001 AND HELD EACH YEAR TILL 2007, IT HAS BEEN HELD EACH YEAR SINCE 2015 IN OXFORD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD AND IN BIRMINGHAM IN 2022 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE.
Turtle Opera, free for all the participants, runs as ten half-day Saturday workshops that culminate in a performance attended by the participants’ family and friends and interested professionals. Professional artists lead the series of workshops with expertise in drama, music, movement, and visual art.
“I don’t mean to be dramatic about it but Turtle Opera has completely changed our lives. Pascal walked out of the first session, and it was as if “Oh my god, it’s ok to be autistic”. For the first time in his life he picked up the phone and he now talks regularly to his grandparents in Australia. He is a changed child.” Mother of a participant.
TURTLE OPERA IS FREE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS.
