School brings Royal Opera House to the heart of Dorset

Bryanston will help fund its performing arts bursaries by screening live performances from Covent Garden

Keri Beckingham

Young people in Dorset with an interest in performance are set to benefit from a new initiative at Bryanston.

Beginning next month, the Blandford school will offer public screenings of stage productions from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, with net proceeds from ticket sales helping fund its bursary programme in the performing arts.

“We are keen to ensure that young people across the area not only have the chance to find inspiration in first-class West End productions, but also to fulfil their own aspirations,” said Bryanston head, Mark Mortimer.

“This is also why we’re working closely with the Blandford Schools’ Network – to widen access to such cultural events and give local children in the area more opportunities to experience and enjoy creativity and the performing arts.”

Full testing has been completed in the school’s Coade Hall ahead of the first screening on 17 December, a recorded broadcast of the Royal Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’, open to residents of Blandford and surrounds.

Bryanston has also been granted permission to repeat the screening on the following day, for the benefit of pupils from primary schools in the Blandford Schools’ Network.

“Increasing accessibility to the world’s finest performing arts is important in a rural community,” added Mortimer, “and I have no doubt that the screenings from the Royal Opera House will help to inspire and enthral local audiences.”