Music Stories: A Happy Reunion @ Equal People Mencap

Devised for Opera Holland Park and Equal People.

The project was made possible with funding from the National Lottery.

Project description: A haka against social isolation

Music Stories was an interactive story project for Opera Holland Park and Equal People Mencap in Kensington. Over five online workshops, we created a lockdown mini-musical about Zouzou the mouse and Big Ben the monkey. During social distancing, the two friends stayed in touch via ZOOM. They overcame isolation through a virtual haka dance – the national dance of Zouzou’s home country New Zealand – which they performed together every day. The haka involves quirky facial expressions and releases strong emotions in a fun way.

With hope in their hearts, the friends envision a happy reunion at Equal People Mencap’s day centre in Kensington, with lots of carrot cake and walnut pasta, of course.

In the London Zoo, monkey Big Ben misses his friend Zouzou the mouse. During the Corona-crisis, they can’t meet. Sometimes, the two friends feel lonely, but they stay in touch virtually. On Zoom, they dance together

Impact: Digital connections and creative opera outreach

The project explored virtual engagement and possibilities of inclusion through elements of music theatre. In times of a pandemic crisis, it showed how devising stories together online can reveal unexpected creative possibilities, build confidence and make meaningful connections. The digital component presented a valuable way of making an arts project accessible for differently-abled participant groups.

I miss you Zouzou

It feels so strange

I’m happy that someone’s waiting for you