Ever since the foundation of the festival, an important place within OFF is reserved for students. This year too, five teams of students from different study programmes are introduced to opera in a hands-on way: by making one themselves. The result of their journey is shown in Dutch National Opera & Ballet on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 March.

As in previous years, the student teams include students from several art disciplines: composition, direction, dramaturgy, scenography and production. Each team creates a short opera production of about fifteen minutes. In their performances, the student teams deal with a wide variety of current themes, from ecology, death and rebirth to shame and alienation.

The student teams are guided by opera director Sjaron Minailo, composer Meriç Artaç, scenographer Tatyana van Walsum and the artistic and technical departments of Dutch National Opera. This year, the performances will not be performed separately, but in series, so that the audience can see the work of all five teams.

OFF Labs
During this edition of the Opera Forward Festival, we have sought collaboration with students in various ways, resulting in three different OFF Labs: Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Cultural Policy.

Contribute to OFF
Do you want to contribute to the Opera Forward Festival? Click here to contribute to OFF!