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Person wearing a green hat and dinosaur tail sits at a grand piano on a stage. The empty seats of the auditorium can been seen behind them.
View all events for category: Classical music

Carnival: Schools Performance

Schools are invited to enjoy Aurora Orchestra and Frantic Assembly’s vibrant introduction to orchestral instruments, brought to life with movement and words.

More details for Queen Elizabeth Hall
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In the first half of this new production, Aurora Orchestra presents a staging of Saint-Saëns’ beloved music, performed from memory and infused with movement, design, lighting and new text by Kate Wakeling.

From the virtuosic flight of the flute to the demon speed of the pianists, and from the floor-shaking footsteps of the double bass to the soft glides of the cello, prepare to be dazzled by this spectacular carnival parade.

In a playful twist, the second part of Aurora’s Carnival takes us behind the curtain to see what happens to the performers when the show is over.

Specially commissioned for this production, Richard Ayres’ new work Dr Frompou’s Anatomical Study of an Orchestra introduces us to the madcap scientist Dr Frompou, who keeps the instruments of the orchestra captive in a laboratory, performing musical experiments and finding new ways to make strange and powerful sounds.

Aurora collaborates for the first time with internationally-renowned physical theatre company Frantic Assembly. Find out what happens when the performers begin to stage a rebellion…

An Aurora Orchestra/Southbank Centre co-production developed in collaboration with Frantic Assembly.

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 7+
Event information

This performance is for schools only. A family performance takes place on Saturday 3 May.

For your visit

This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre

The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.

Queen Elizabeth Hall building at Southbank Centre View larger image

Plan your visit

The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.

Getting here

Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.

The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues.  More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.

We’re cash-free

Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.

Access

We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.

All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.

All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.

Food & drink

From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.

Places to eat and drink whilst you’re here