Visit and behind the scenes tour of the Royal Opera House

9 September 2024

As a group of Broderers and friends gathered at a side door of the iconic Royal Opera House, we agreed we had no idea what to expect.

Our guide was so enthusiastic about the history of the building – probably the third building on the site. We heard how the “crush bar” got its’ name – Queen Victoria enjoyed crushed orange and lemons over ice, particularly when she arrived for a performance – and the name survives to this day. We crept into the auditorium as artists and stage crew moved about the stage, shuffled props and marked positions downstage.

The most memorable part was a detailed demonstration of a tutu – how they are constructed and how they are stored. There is no easy way to hang a tutu!

Past Master Andrew Buchanan holding the lilac fairy tutu up for size

… and trying to understand how that hanger works!

Later on, we were able to visit the Costume Store and Revival Workroom. The ROH makes every effort to be as sustainable as possible and re uses and re models costumes wherever possible. The main store is the size of four football pitches, near Aberdare in Wales – when you order ballet shoes 700 pairs at a time and one opera can have over 300 costumes – you need the space.

Over 1000 people work on the site of the Royal Opera House and by the end of our tour we understood they all had their own vital roles in producing such magnificent productions.