Young People

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Working alongside professional artists, participants will explore music, performance, movement, storytelling, digital creativity and production, helping to shape the future of Birmingham Opera Company while developing skills that can be used in work, education and everyday life.

Find out more about our work with young people

The performers for The Stage is Yours at Factory Young People's Centre in March 2026

The Opera Station: First Fridays at New Street Station

Opera is always on the move - and we've launched The Opera Station every first Friday at the month at New Street Station to capture that Friday feeling for commuters, travellers and revellers alike as they cross the concourse.

And in true Birmingham Opera Company style, we're pushing the boundaries while we do it. At our launch event on 1 May 2026, over 2,000 people experienced the world premiere of some brand new work from opera singer/writer Themba Mvula and composer/producer Danni Skerritt (AKA DJ Dirty Freud) alongside Mezzo Soprano Lea Shaw and Saxophonist Jono Allen.

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We'll be back on Friday 5th June with performances from British-Indian Soprano Meeta Raval (Pavarotti prize winner & BBC Cardiff Singer of the World finalist) and Dominick Felix (who you might remember as the Drunken Guest at Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk!). Join us in the late afternoon/early evening (exact timings TBA) at the concourse in Birmingham New Street Station.

In collaboration with OPUS and Network Rail, join us as we transform Friday evenings with something new and unexpected each month...

Themba Mvula performing at New Street Station, Friday 1st May.

About Four Hubs

The city is our opera house. We’re always out and about, performing across the city to thousands of people each year. Maybe last year you caught us in on Erdington High Street, on the makeshift beach in King’s Norton, at New Street Station, or one of the many other places we popped up. 

Each year we have four areas of focus for bespoke targeted events, often unadvertised and always in a space in which we are the guests.

We’ve got collaborations going with: 

• groups supporting young people aged 16-25
• groups supporting asylum seekers
• Ward End
• Perry Barr

Alongside our pop-up performances, there are loads of opportunities to get involved and flex your creative muscles, no previous experience necessary. Whether you’re interested in singing, acting, words and writing, exploring important ideas, movement and dance – there’s something we can do together. How come? We make opportunities for volunteers in Birmingham to work alongside artists to shape our work at all stages. Together we make outstanding opera that’s unlike opera anywhere else. Our year-round sessions are usually free at the point of delivery and open to everyone, whether you’ve worked with us before or not. 

If you’re in one of these groups or places, get in touch with our Creative Producer Diandra McCalla for a chat: email [email protected] or call/text/WhatsApp 07793 257 537.  And if you’re not in one of those groups or places but curious about what we do… get in touch anyway! It’ll be great to hear from you.

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And for a bit of fun...

...here's a short film from one of our pop-up events during lockdown. Pandarotti, an invention by director Max Hoehn, is "singing for his supper" with an aria from the opera Tosca by Puccini. Featuring tenor Amar Muchhala and pianist Charlotte Forrest. We hope you enjoy it! We can't promise Pandarotti but do get in touch.