What to expect
Pop-up Opera
Already booked your tickets, or thinking about coming to one of our outdoor performances of Pop-up Opera? We're doing everything we can to keep audiences, performers and staff members safe, and we want you to feel assured that we are taking every measure possible to make sure this is the case.
You can find out more information about these performances below. If you have any questions, please email info@scottishopera.org.uk
Scottish Opera will operate all performances in line with the latest guidance from the Scottish Government.
Scottish Opera will:
- Restrict audience numbers to maintain physical distancing at all times. The maximum audience capacity for Pop-up Opera is 68 people per performance in most venues.
- Allocate your seats on arrival while maintaining a safe physical distance
- Sanitise all seats between performances. Please note that wooden seating is in use to allow this to happen: you're welcome to bring your own cushion for additional comfort if you would like to.
- Require that all staff and stewards wear PPE
- Ask all Scottish Opera staff, stewards and performers to take their temperature before the performance. They will not attend if symptomatic of COVID-19.
- Require that audiences use hand sanitiser. We will provide hand sanitising stations.
- Ensure that performers remain a safe distance away from audience members at all times during the performance
- Ensure that all cast and crew follow the latest guidelines on physical distancing as set out by the Scottish Government
Please make sure all people in your booking read and understand the following instructions.
As a requirement of booking, we ask that you:
- Book tickets in advance and present them on entrance as an e-ticket, either on a smartphone, tablet or printed
- Help us to be compliant with the Scottish Government's Test and Protect programme. As a requirement of booking, you consent for your contact information to be passed on to NHS Scotland should it be required for Test and Protect purposes.
- Observe all signage and instructions from event staff, and maintain a 2m physical distance from other groups. This is for your own personal safety and the safety of others.
- Avoid touching seats that are not your own
Do not attend if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have experienced symptoms in the last ten days; are self-isolating because of COVID-19 symptoms; or have been in contact with anyone with symptoms in the last 14 days
Tickets will be bookable in ‘pods’, in groups of up to 2 or up to 4. You’ll need to choose your ticket, or pod, based on the size of group you will be attending with. Please ensure all people within your pod are members of your household or bubble in line with current Scottish Government guidelines.
For larger groups, you will need to select multiple pods at the checkout. We regret that we will not be able to rearrange seats to form larger group pods, but we will seat you in adjacent pods wherever possible, provided you all arrive at the same time.
Seating will be allocated on arrival. We will do our best to accommodate specific needs where possible. Please email info@scottishopera.org.uk in advance if you have any accessibility requirements.
We understand that young children may find it difficult to maintain social distancing. We are grateful for parental vigilance while on-site and ask that children should be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times and remain within the designated pod.
No, only e-tickets will be available for this performance. Your e-ticket will be attached to your Booking Confirmation email. You can either print this, or show it on your mobile device when you arrive at the Pop-up performance area. We will use a scanning app to record attendance, so please make sure you have the QR code (found on the e-ticket) ready when you arrive.
If you have any issue with your booking, please email info@scottishopera.org.uk.
In order to keep the entrance as clear as possible, tickets will not be bookable via our event staff on the day. However, tickets will be available to book online and on your mobile device up until the scheduled start time of the performance, subject to availability. We advise booking as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Babes in arms are welcome and do not require a ticket.
Doors will open 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each performance. You are welcome to approach the Pop-up performance area any time from then, but please allow plenty of time to be seated and get settled.
We ask you not to arrive earlier than this to avoid unnecessary queuing.
When you arrive at the venue, please follow the signs for Pop-up Opera. Safe queuing points will be indicated by signage and Scottish Opera stewards. You’ll need to show your e-ticket when you arrive at the entrance. This will be attached to your Booking Confirmation email. You can either print your ticket or show it on your phone. Our stewards will scan your ticket and direct you to your seating area.
If the performance has already started, our stewards will seat you at the rear of the area. This will ensure a safe distance is kept from other audience members, and to avoid disturbing both them and the performers. If you arrive late to the performance and other members of your pod are already seated, we regret that we may not be able to seat you together. Please note that each performance is only 25 minutes long, so arriving late may result in missing a large portion of the show.
There will be a secure area near the entrance to the performance space where you can leave your pushchair or pram. A member of Scottish Opera staff will be present throughout the performance.
If you would prefer to have your pushchair or pram with you during the performance, our stewards will do their best to seat you at the end of a row, subject to availability.
All items left are at the risk of the individual and Scottish Opera cannot accept responsibility.
We will be using microphones to enhance the sound. Usually, opera is not amplified when in an indoor or purpose-built venue, but gentle amplification is needed outdoors.
No, there will not be an interval. The approximate running time of the show is 25 minutes.
Surtitles will not be displayed. The performance is sung in English or Italian, depending on the show, and our storyteller will guide you through the story with an English narration.
Please check the venue or local council websites for full listings of the nearest car parking facilities for your chosen venue. You can find links to venue websites when clicking through to book tickets from the main event page.
Scottish Opera will not be providing audience toilets; however, facilities may be available close-by depending on the venue. Please check the venue or local council websites for more information. You can find links to venue websites when clicking through to book tickets from the main event page.
There will be clear pathways marked through the performance area to guide you to the exit should you need to leave during the performance.
No, refreshments will not be available, however there may be local outlets selling refreshments. Please check the venue or local council websites for more information. You can find links to venue websites when clicking through to book tickets from the main event page.
Drinks can be consumed within the seating area and during the performance but we ask you to refrain from eating.
Please be responsible and dispose of all litter in the bins located at the exits.
Assistance dogs are welcome, but we regret that we are unable to allow other dogs into the performance area.
If you are unable to attend your chosen performance, please email info@scottishopera.org.uk as soon as possible so that we can reallocate your ticket.