The Royal Opera House is one of the most impressive theatres in the world. Yes, Paris and Moscow have incredibly ornate theatres that are featured in countless photoshoots. However, the impressive history behind the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera are part of what makes the Royal Opera House so impressive. (That royal coat of arms surrounded by red velvet probably doesn’t hurt…) I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the a Royal Opera House tour, and it is one of my favourite ballet experiences to date!
I knew that when tickets for a Royal Opera House tour became available for when I was actually there, I had to get one. This trip was all about saying yes to myself, and I knew that I would regret missing out. So, for £15, I was able to take a 75 minute tour of the Royal Opera House! I do have to say that other than one other girl, I was the youngest person on the tour by a good 30 years. I was okay with that, though- it made for an interesting experience!
So my only complaint for the tour is that you aren’t allowed to take any photos for 90% of the tour, and they don’t sell anything on the history of the building or “a day in the life” type guide. I was able to take pictures of the theatre when I was there for the ballet, so I wasn’t sure why we weren’t allowed to on the tour. (I do understand why you can’t take pictures backstage, as the sets, lights, sound, and costumes are all proprietary. The theatre, though??) I did a backstage tour, where you specifically get to see a class or rehearsal of the Royal Ballet. I believe that you can do a different tour that looks more at the history of Covent Garden and the accompanying theatre legends, but it isn’t offered a lot. If I was able, I would probably be the person who does both tours, but the backstage tour is excellent on its own.
We started off by going into the theatre! They were setting up for the Don Quixote dress rehearsal, so there was a hum of tech activity. However, I did learn some very interesting facts about the theatre. If you look at the second box from the stage on the second level, you have spotted the Royal Box. Apparently Prince Charles attends the ROH quite often, and I can see why; the Royal Box has a sitting room, a dining room, a kitchen (with a butler), and a private staircase. Don’t worry about mingling with the commoners, they will take care of that… When Queen Victoria was reigning, she would come to the ROH two or three times a week, and liked to sit at the right side of the box (further from the stage). If anyone attended with her, they had to face away from the stage as they couldn’t turn their back on the monarch. (Once again, Queen Victoria, “thinking of others”…) And the box to the left of it, closest to the stage? That belongs to the Duke of Bedford, and is the only privately owned box in the ROH. The Dukes of Bedford owned the land that the Royal Opera House was built on, so they were able to negotiate their own box.
If you move to the common folk seating, you can see a fifth level of seating, tucked into a niche. You can get incredibly cheap seats there; while it wouldn’t be the best for a Royal Ballet performance, as you would miss much of the performance, you can listen to an opera fairly easily. You can also faintly see people standing about halfway up the fourth tier. Yes, you can get standing tickets at the Royal Opera House, usually for £5-10!
The ceiling in the theatre is particularly gorgeous. The blue is meant to mimic the sky outside, like a lot of classical architecture does. The gold leaf designs also don’t hurt; the classical symbols for the arts can be found throughout the ceiling. I am glad that I got a ticket for Don Quixote on the fourth tier, as I was able to actually get a closer look at the ceiling. If you have the chance, go up to the fourth or fifth tiers and take a look for yourself!
So, after the theatre, we headed down to the lighting storage area. It’s not really one of my areas of interest, but they do show you all of the different lighting and stage effects that they can do with over 150,000 lights. Because they have everything they need in house, they can produce any effect needed, meaning that they can save money on avoiding rentals! And then after that, we headed upstairs to see the costume area. There are just stacks on stacks on stacks of tutus, and it is literally a ballet dancer’s dream… You also can see the stage-sized holding area beside the stage where they hold all of the sets. The Royal Opera House is giant in case you didn’t know, as there is probably 4 stages worth of space, including the actual stage and everything around it. And then you consider that there is still the entire theatre…
Obviously we weren’t allowed to film it, but I was able to watch 15 minutes of the Royal Ballet taking class. I saw Steven McRae, Akane Takada, and Sarah Lamb all taking class, like they aren’t the most talented ballet dancers on the planet. Fun fact: they fall out of turns, just like the rest of us! (I mean, they do it a lot more gracefully than most of us, but holy Batman.) I was slightly frustrated that all of the older people on my tour were talking through it, but I just tuned them out and loved it. This is their class from World Ballet 2018 so you have an idea!
There are different costumes, production shots, costume sketches, fabric swatches, and other momentos from the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera throughout the ROH. These Odette and Odile costumes from Swan Lake are just outside one of several restaurants in the Royal Opera House, and they are the perfect gates. I actually saw the Royal Ballet perform Swan Lake when it was televised in theatres, so it was lovely to see the costumes in person. (The Royal Ballet and Royal Opera seasons are broadcast in cinemas across the world, if you want to enjoy them for yourself!)
We went up to the rooftop lounge, which would be the perfect place to have lunch on a beautiful spring or summer day! From my research, it is one of the more affordable restaurants at the ROH, if you are looking to book something.
You also have the best view of Covent Garden from up here!
What I particularly enjoy about it, though, is that you can actually see the outdoor area for the dancer’s physio. I didn’t see anyone while I was there, but I do wish that I could do my physiotherapy on the rooftop patio of the Royal Opera House, overlooking Covent Garden. (I would have actually loved to see more of the physio centre, but it was full of dancers, and I can understand why you wouldn’t want people looking in.)
And my pro-tip for after the tour? If you want anything from the Royal Opera House gift shop, buy it right after your tour, as you get a 10% discount. (You don’t get it with a Royal Ballet or Royal Opera ticket, so take advantage of it with the tour.) Obviously, I had to get a few things as mementos; the notebook and totebag were on the pricier side at £12.50 and £20, respectively. However, they are well-made, and I will have them for years to come. (The notebook is for my ballet history research notes, to be on the nose…) I also got a vintage postcard set, and some buttons. Overall, I’m impressed I didn’t spend more!
Have you done the Royal Opera House tour?
Cheers,
The Historian
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What a cool tour!! I agree, it’s odd that they won’t allow you to photograph the theatre itself. I am so happy you got to go on this tour!
If they had banned it entirely, it would make sense, but when you have specifically paid for a tour?? Odd! And I am SO happy I did this ? It has been on my bucket list, and I absolutely would have regretted missing out!!
This looks amazing! I have never done this tour and will now have to add it to my list next time I’m in London. Those costumes look gorgeous! But dinner in the Royal Box? Wouldn’t that distract the dancers/ opera singers?
I did do a tour of the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company in case other readers don’t know) when I was visiting Stratford-Upon-Avon a few years ago. Definitely worth it! Got to include a tower visit- the views were amazing! And I too was one of the younger people. We didn’t get to see rehearsals but I got to see David Tennant as Richard II which more than made up for it. And they have their costumes on display in the foyer and on rotating exhibits (I went back a few months later and some had been switched out for a new theme).
That is very cool, I love that they change them out!! I have to say, I would probably pick a theatre that covers several different playwrights (I think that other authors and playwrights get the shift for Shakespeare), but it is fascinating to see the inner workings of any theatre. Most of my walking tour group went straight to the Globe after our Southwark walking tour, people can’t say no to Shakespeare and his related theatres!!