Through both short and long-term projects with partners such as the British Red Cross and Fairbeats!, Inspire has worked with over 100 newly arrived refugees and unaccompanied minors, using music and theatre to help them find their voice and welcome them into their new home.

Opera allows the exploration of social and emotional narratives through the universal languages of music and drama, which has been empowering for participants of all ages and backgrounds. Our work has involved bringing groups into our theatre and delivering workshops in community spaces. All opera audience members are equal in that while they may not understand the words to a production, they understand the emotion.

Over the summer of 2018, we brought together a number of unaccompanied minors as part of a new project with the British Red Cross. The participants, together with professional singers, composers and designers, created a performance based around the idea of ‘welcoming’, which they performed on the Opera Holland Park stage during our Open Day.