Scottish Opera bring a tale of exploration to Brechin with new tour
Scottish Opera’s much-loved, annual Primary Schools Tour will bring its production of ‘The Dragon of the Western Sea’ to Angus next year, and a new digital version of the show will now be available alongside the in-person tour.
The tour will start in February with The Dragon of the Western Sea, and a new digital version of the show is now available alongside the in-person tour.
Running through the Spring and Summer terms, the tour will visit schools all over Scotland and will help teachers deliver aspects of A Curriculum for Excellence.
It gives up to 100 P5-P7s the opportunity to be involved in a special performance day, during which a team of Scottish Opera Teaching Artists help them stage their own all-singing, all-dancing 30-minute show, with full rental of props and costumes. Alternatively, it can be facilitated entirely within the classroom by teachers themselves.
And the company will visit Maisondieu Primary School in Brechin on Friday, March 13.
For both in-person and digital, schools are provided with high quality, online teaching resources in advance, including a teachers' support pack, to help introduce the songs from The Dragon of the Western Sea to pupils.
‘The Dragon of the Western Sea’, composed by Alan Penman with words by Ross Stenhouse, tells the story of the exciting voyages of 14th century Chinese commander, Admiral Zheng He, who set sail with his vast fleet and 28,000 crew, from China to Indonesia, India, Arabia and the grasslands of Africa in search of trade, treaties and treasure.
When the great Dragon Throne Emperor, Zhu Di, decides it is time his nation expanded its influence beyond the edge of the known world, he assembles his mighty ships and fills them with all the riches of China, enough to buy the gratitude and friendship of those unknown lands beyond the setting sun.
Only one man could be trusted to lead such a dangerous and important mission, the great Admiral Zheng He, the Dragon of the Western Sea.
Scottish Opera’s children’s operas make learning fun and creative. Over the years, the Primary Schools Tour has inspired over 850,000 children across all 32 Local Authority areas in Scotland.
The Dragon of the Western Sea forms part of a suite of Scottish Opera’s digital offerings for schools. This online delivery method — which includes Scottish Opera singers appearing on screen in classrooms to sing alongside the class — makes the project even easier and more affordable for teachers to engage with.
Jane Davidson, Scottish Opera’s director of education and outreach, said: "With The Dragon of the Western Sea, the composer and librettist were inspired by this real-life story to create a dramatic tale of adventure on the high seas.
"The plot gives us a wonderful opportunity to introduce Scottish primary pupils to a different perspective on the age of discovery. We’re delighted we’ve been able to re-imagine and expand the tour by offering a digital version to make it even more accessible for all schools in Scotland to take part.”