2018

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS

Manchester Contemporary Youth Opera

2026 Collaborative Opera Lab

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Tuesday 1 September to Wednesday 9 September 2026

Main venue: Contact Theatre, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M15 6JA

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Are you a young or emerging artist interested in making new opera? Manchester Contemporary Youth Opera (MCYO) invite applications for the forthcoming Collaborative Opera Lab.

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​​​We are launching a new format in 2026, with two application categories:

1. Creative Development Team (seeking a pre-formed team of artists)

2. Collaborating Performer (looking for up to five individual performers with different skills)

 

 

1. ​CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT TEAM

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Who are we looking for?

• A pre-formed team of between two and four artists who will develop an opera concept and draft score/materials between mid June and early August 2026.

• The team will comprise artists with different creative skills, and interests in collaborating. For example, your team could be made up of a composer, a writer, a director; a composer, a choreographer, a poet; or a multimedia artist, a composer-performer, and a director. Other examples might include visual art, video, animation, and we’d love to hear from you if your medium isn’t on this list.  

• We are looking for artists who are new to making opera, or who wish to broaden their experience of making opera.

• Applicants should be aged 18 or over and self-define as ‘young’ or ‘emerging’.

• We welcome applications from young and emerging artists of all backgrounds and educational experience.

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What does it involve?

• You will work as a small group of artists with diverse skillsets to create an opera concept and any scored materials for performers by a deadline of 3 August 2026.

• Over seven days of workshop and rehearsal time in early September, you will stage the opera with our ‘Collaborating Performers’.

• On the final day (Wednesday 9 September), we will film your opera, and you will perform it to a friendly public audience at Contact Theatre.

• You will be based at Contact, with occasional workshops in other local venues.

• The middle Sunday will not be scheduled. This will be time for rest and individual work in preparation for week 2.

• Our working days will typically be weekdays 10am-6pm, with a later finish on the final performance day (Wednesday 9 September), and an earlier finish on Saturday 5 September.

• You will be mentored by Artistic Directors Richard Strivens and Nina Whiteman throughout the process, as well as occasional guest mentors.

 

What does it cost?

• Thanks to generous support from the Henfrey Charitable Trust, and Contact Theatre, we are able to offer places on the 2026 Lab free of charge. (The actual cost of a place on the Collaborative Opera Lab is in excess of £1000.)

• Please note that the fee waiver applies to participation in the Lab only, and does not include transport, accommodation, or subsistence costs during the rehearsal period. However, lunches will be provided on the days we are working.

• In addition to offering free participation in the Lab residency, we have a Creative Development bursary of £2500 available to the Creative Development Team. This bursary is intended to help you set aside time to work on your opera project. You will agree with us how it is divided among your team members. The bursary will be paid in three instalments: 1) as you commence work, 2) on receipt of performance materials, and 3) on the first day of the residency in Manchester.
  
  2. COLLABORATING PERFORMERS

Who are we looking for?

• Participants with creative skills and an interest in collaborating.

• We are interested in people working in any artform. Examples might include physical theatre, music performance (vocal or instrumental), acting, or dance. But we’d love to hear from you if your performance medium isn’t on this list.  

• No experience of making opera is necessary.

• Applicants should be aged 18 or over and self-define as ‘young’ or ‘emerging’.

• We welcome applications from young and emerging artists of all backgrounds and educational experience.

What does it involve?

• You will work collaboratively with the Creative Development Team to perform the opera they have devised.

• Over seven days of workshop and rehearsal time, you will prepare the opera performance.

• On the final day (Wednesday 9 September), we will film your opera, and you will perform it to a friendly public audience at Contact Theatre.

• You will be based at Contact, with occasional workshops in other local venues.

• The middle Sunday will not be scheduled. This will be time for rest and individual work in preparation for week 2.

• Our working days will typically be weekdays 10am-6pm, with a later finish on the final performance day (Wednesday 9 September), and an earlier finish on Saturday 5 September.

• You will be mentored by Artistic Directors Richard Strivens and Nina Whiteman throughout the process, as well as occasional guest mentors.

What does it cost?

• Thanks to generous support from the Henfrey Charitable Trust, and Contact Theatre, we are able to offer places on the 2026 Lab free of charge. (The actual cost of a place on the Collaborative Opera Lab is in excess of £1000.)

• Please note that the fee waiver applies to participation in the Lab only, and does not include transport, accommodation, or subsistence costs. However, lunches will be provided on the days we are working.

 

 

 

FURTHER NOTES, relating to both application categories:

How will participants be supported?

• The group will be supported by experienced mentors, including MCYO Artistic Directors Richard Strivens and Nina Whiteman.

• The group will be given a small production budget to spend.

• MCYO will provide lunch every day.

• The Contact building and all of our workshop sites are wheelchair accessible and close to public transport connections.

• It is important to us that we make participation accessible to you. Please let us know of any requirements when you apply.

How will participants be chosen?

• Applications will be judged on merit.

• We will look to create a group with a broad range of skills.

• A panel will select the participants: Nina Whiteman (composer-vocalist-multimedia artist, and MCYO Artistic Director), Richard Strivens (opera animateur-dramaturge-researcher, singer, and MCYO Artistic Director), Katherine Lee (composer and guzheng performer, 2025 MCYO participating artist), and Gareth Mattey (writer, dramaturg, translator and director, 2025 MCYO guest mentor).

• We draw on the Sound and Music Fair Access Principles in the ‘selection’ category: https://soundandmusic.org/our-impact/fair-access-principles/

How do I apply? What do I need to submit?

 

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT TEAM applicants

• Creative Development Team Application Form (download from the bottom of this page; one form per team)

• Maximum one side of A4 setting out your initial concept for a 30-60 minute opera.

• Examples of previous work from each member of the team (individuals are allowed one of: up to five pages of text; up to three minutes of audio/video along with score materials as relevant; up to five still images). Please send video as links, rather than as files (e.g. upload it to YouTube as ‘unlisted’). 

• Send the application form, text/image materials, and any video links to mcyopera@gmail.com by the deadline of Tuesday 26 May, 5pm BST.

• If you need to receive the application form in a different format, or require assistance completing the form, please contact mcyopera@gmail.com.​

 

COLLABORATING PERFORMER applicants

• Collaborating Performer Application Form (download from the bottom of this page)

• A 1-minute video of you sharing your performance skill that shows what you could contribute to the collaboration.  

  • The video could be shot on your phone.

  • Your video should be sent as a link, rather than as a file (e.g. upload it to YouTube as ‘unlisted’).

• Send the application form and video link to mcyopera@gmail.com by the deadline of Tuesday 26 May, 5pm BST.

• If you need to receive the application form in a different format, or require assistance completing the form, please contact mcyopera@gmail.com.​

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FAQ

Q: Can I apply in both categories?

A: Yes, please complete an application form for each.

 

Further questions?

• Feel free to DM us on Facebook or Instagram, or write to us at mcyopera@gmail.com