Announcing Curtain Up!: Behind the Scenes at the Royal Opera House

We’re delighted to have partnered with The Royal Opera House and Lauren O’Hara, illustrator of Sophie Dahl’s children’s book Madame Badobedah, to publish Curtain Up!: Behind the Scenes at the Royal Opera House. It provides insight into the creation of some of the most iconic ballets and operas staged at the venue.

Lauren O’Hara has been nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal twice and shortlisted for the Children’s Books Ireland Award twice. With her sister Natalia O’Hara as author, she illustrated Hortense and the Shadow, The Bandit Queen and Frindleswylde. Her collaboration with Sophie Dahl, Madame Badobedah, was a Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Year.

Darcey Bussell, former principal ballerina of The Royal Ballet, said “There really is no other theatre like it! The Royal Opera House brings so many creative artists under one roof, working hard towards wonderful new productions and performances. When you step into the building, you step into a treasure trove of sights, sounds and senses, from the music of the orchestra, the sweat of the dancers to the heat from the lights on the stage. Lauren’s wonderful illustrations bring all this to life and bring back so many memories for me. This is your very own tour to see everything that goes on in every room of this exciting opera house. Enjoy every page!”

Curtain Up! will be published in September 2022, and can be pre-ordered here.