Jessica Leary

Project Title: Reaching out in opera: An exploration into the technical, artistic and professional implications of outreach work for the singer

Changing cultural and funding climates in the UK have necessitated a drive to reach new audiences in opera beyond the traditional theatre setting.  Such opera ‘outreach’ has been explored from the audience perspective, but the implication for performers – and particularly singers – remains largely un-researched.

This doctoral project will explore the impact of opera outreach specifically from the singer’s perspective. It will explore how the particular demands of non-mainstage work shape the performer’s evaluation of outreach performance in relation to conventional performance contexts.  It will further examine how a better understanding of performer experiences might inform the future training of singers and shape the quality of output for greater cultural and social impact.