• Royal Opera House (map)
  • Covent Garden, London



ROYAL OPERA HOUSE - LINBURY THEATRE
CURRENT, RISING

“bold, innovative and exciting” The Evening Standard
”the experience is utterly extraordinary” The Stage

In a unique collaboration with Figment Productions and Royal Holloway University (where CHROMA is ensemble-in-residence), the Royal Opera House presents the world’s first original opera in hyper reality: Current, Rising, an artistic experiment bringing together historic stagecraft and cutting-edge technology, developed by a female-led creative team.

  • Director: Netia Jones
    Designer: Joanna Scotcher
    Composer: Samantha Fernando
    Librettist: Melanie Wilson

    MD: Richard Baker
    Ensemble: CHROMA
    Flute db picc - Sarah  O'Flynn
    Clarinet db bass - Stuart King
    Accordion - Ian Watson
    Violin - Eloisa-Fleur Thom
    Viola - Chihiro Ono
    Cello - Cecilia Bignall
    Percussion - Steve Gibson
    Vocal: Anna Dennis
    Recording producer: Alex Groves

Current, Rising is a 15-minute hyper reality opera experience, combining virtual reality with a multisensory set, blending historic stagecraft with cutting-edge technology. It invites audiences to step into an immersive, atmospheric virtual world and experience a dream-like journey carried musically by a poem layered in song.  It is a radical new way of seeing opera in which you – the audience – are at the centre of the performance.

Inspired by the liberation of Ariel at the end of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Current, Rising will take four people at a time into its magical universe, traversing together the landscapes of the night, from twilight to dawn – exploring ideas of isolation, connection, and collective reimagination – a powerful experience for our time.

Developed by a female-led creative team, this timely artistic experiment is directed by video pioneer Netia Jones and designed by award-winning designer Joanna Scotcher. The music is by renowned composer Samantha Fernando, the libretto is by the celebrated performance maker Melanie Wilson, and the singing voice is acclaimed Baroque and contemporary music soprano Anna Dennis.

Buying tickets

Tickets are priced at £20 for adults and £15 for under-25s.

Current, Rising is a shared experience for groups of four at regular timed slots throughout the day. Audiences are able to socially distance (1m+) within the experience at all times. Audience members can purchase a ticket either individually or for multiple people (up to four). If you wish to buy three tickets or fewer, you may be grouped with other individuals to make up a 4.

Virtual Reality Experience

Virtual reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment. Guests wear a backpack computer and a VR headset that present video and audio to immerse them in a virtual world. You will be accompanied at all times during the experience by a host who will be wearing a face covering, and who will provide assistance if required.

Once you put your headset on you will be able to see other members of your group as avatars in the virtual world. This will be a reflection of your physical distance within the space, and so we ask that you ensure you remain at least 1m apart during the experience.

Current, Rising is a collaboration between Audience Labs at the Royal Opera House, Figment Productions and StoryFutures at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Guidance:The experience is suitable for those age 13 and over. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

General Booking opens 7 May:

https://www.roh.org.uk/tickets-and-events/current-rising-details