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Carnival: Schools Performance

Fri 2 May 2025
1:00 pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre

Schools are invited to enjoy Aurora Orchestra and Frantic Assembly’s vibrant introduction to orchestral instruments, brought to life with movement and words.

In the first half of this new production, Aurora Orchestra presents a staging of Saint-Saëns’ beloved music, performed from memory and infused with movement, design, lighting and new text by Kate Wakeling.

From the virtuosic flight of the flute to the demon speed of the pianists, and from the floor-shaking footsteps of the double bass to the soft glides of the cello, prepare to be dazzled by this spectacular carnival parade.

In a playful twist, the second part of Aurora’s Carnival takes us behind the curtain to see what happens to the performers when the show is over.

Specially commissioned for this production, Richard Ayres’ new work Dr Frompou’s Anatomical Study of an Orchestra introduces us to the madcap scientist Dr Frompou, who keeps the instruments of the orchestra captive in a laboratory, performing musical experiments and finding new ways to make strange and powerful sounds.

Aurora collaborates for the first time with internationally-renowned physical theatre company Frantic Assembly. Find out what happens when the performers begin to stage a rebellion…

An Aurora Orchestra/Southbank Centre co-production developed in collaboration with Frantic Assembly.