Thurrock Trailblazer Cultural Catalogue 2019-20

ETO
KS2
KS3
LAIKA THE SPACE DOG
English Touring Opera (ETO) is the leading touring opera company in the UK. ETO travels to more
regions and venues than any other English opera company. Their work includes commissioned
opera pieces especially for young people.
ETO’s Education work has been nominated for the Opera Awards 2019
“I thought it was absolutely brilliant, informative and engaging. I loved
how the children became interested in operatic music, as many within
my class informed me that they had never even heard opera, let alone
see it!”
ABOUT THE PROJECT
SUITABILITY
TEACHER COMMITMENT & TRAINING
COSTS
Following the success of past tours, including
a visit to Thurrock in 2016, ETO are reviving
Laika, the Spacedog for the second time.
Written for children and family audiences, it is
designed for Key Stage 2 in primary schools,
and incorporates many areas of the curriculum,
including science, history and literacy as well as
music.
• Music by Russell Hepplewhite
• Words and Direction by Tim Yealland
• Design by Jude Munden
• Animation by Babis Alexiadis.
The opera’s thrilling story is told in many
diverse ways by nine professional performers
– and includes archive film, filmed animation
(created with children) and puppetry.
The characters include the idealistic young
student Mikhael, the great scientist Korolev, the
dog-hating Valentina, and of course the little
dog herself.
The piece features also a specially made theremin
(the original electronic instrument), along
with percussion, clarinet, cello and bassoon.
The action takes us from an apartment in Moscow
to Gorky Park, to the Kremlin - where we
meet President Khrushchev – and finally to the
Cosmodrome in Baikonur, brought to life with
stunning design, and from where we launch the
famous Sputnik rockets.
Suitable for KS2, Early KS3 (Year 7)
DATES, LOCATION & FORMAT
Tuesday 15 October 2019, the performance will
run at Thameside Theatre, Grays.
The duration of the performance without
interval Is aproximately 55 min.
There will be a Q&A at the end of the show.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes include:
• Awareness of Opera as an art form
• Exposure to theatricality
CROSS-CURRICULAR LINKS
• Science and Space: Gravity, Atmosphere,
Planets and stars
• History
• Literacy
• Music
• Drama
• Geography: Europe and USRR
• History: History of the space race including
famous scientists
Shared research with students, surrounding the
themes of the performance, before the visit.
Teachers will need to arrange transport to and
from the theatre.
We encourage teachers to research Laika
before attending the performance with
students to allow for better understanding of
the story and surrounding themes.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END?
There will be a short post performance Q&A
session. We ask teachers to encourage their
students to be confident in asking questions to
the ETO team about the show.
Teachers are encouraged to further explore
the cross-curricular links outlined as post activity
following the performance day.
OTHER RESOURCES & SUPPORT
A sing-along resource and education activity
pack to support learning including: Curriculum
links, classroom activity ideas, musical CD and
electronic file scores, plus information on the
background of English Touring Opera.
£7 per ticket, please include teachers in your
calculations.
RECOMMENDED
This offer could complement the following:
• National Theatre: Let’s Play
• Rendered Retina: Form workshops
• TMS: Sing Healthily CPD
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