The Hospital Ball (2016)

In Spring 2016 Garsingotn Opera joined forces with three hospitals to devise a new piece, inspired by Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin. The company included Karen Gillingham (Director), Lea Cornthwaite (Vocal Director), Melanie Pappenheim (Composer), the Garsington Adult Company, and patients and staff from the National Spinal Injuries Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. The project involved patients with severe injuries and life-limiting illlnesses, their carers and their families. They devised original songs focusing on movement and breathing technuqies and demonstrated how opera and the joy of singing can promote and improve physical and mental wellbeing. 

The performance included a live Skype relay to The John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where we were also supporting work with stroke patients. This work provided an in-depth creative experience, alongside contributing to rehabilitation programmes.