Page 162 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024

The decision is a result of an extensive and ongoing
consultation process with ETO staff, performers and

technical teams, as well as partner venues and
organisations, local councils and schools to ensure the
greatest positive impact on the widest possible audience.

85% of ETO’s work already takes place outside of London,
and therefore exploring options as part of the Arts Council
England Transfer Programme was a natural extension of
the company’s mission to make exceptional artistic

experiences available to all. ETO brings outstanding live
productions and impactful education and community
projects to thousands of people across England each year,

visiting more towns and cities than any other UK opera
company.

ETO already has existing links with Sheffield built through

its regular visits to Sheffield Theatres on its tours and
work with the Sheffield Music Hub and partner schools in
the area. This move allows the company to deepen its
relationship with Sheffield Theatres and work closely with

new partner organisations such as Music in the Round in
broadening the scope of their work and introduce new
audiences to opera. ETO also looks forward to building on

exciting initial discussions around partnerships with
Sheffield Hallam and Sheffield Universities.

Sheffield is ideally located for much of ETO’s touring cycle,
especially for its other venues in the North of England, which
include Buxton Opera House, York Theatre Royal, the
Gala Theatre in Durham and Storyhouse in Chester.

ETO’s Learning and Participation programme is central to
the company’s mission and reaches over 10,000 people each
year through productions in theatres, schools, museums and

libraries.