Wexford Festival Opera performs on the Town with a series of free Pop-up events

Wexford Festival Opera will go on the town in Wexford with a series of daily Pop-up events comprising multidisciplinary performances featuring music, drama, singing and dance, which will be performed in various shops and businesses around Wexford town. Streamed daily on Facebook Live www.facebook.com/wexfordfestivalopera, to encourage audiences to observe social distancing guidelines, the Pop-up events are a central part of new Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi’s vision to bring the Festival closer to the people of Wexford. Her plans were announced last year prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and the health and safety protocols that are currently in place in public spaces. However, not wanting to give up on the idea, it was decided, in consultation with the participating local businesses, to go ahead with the performances under strict social distancing guidelines but to encourage the public to watch the short performances on the Wexford Festival Opera Facebook page which will be live-streamed daily on www.facebook.com/WexfordFestivalOpera In addition, all the Pop-up events will be available the next day to view at your leisure on the Festival’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/wexfordfestivalopera

Our loyal supporter, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), kindly sponsors our community events this year. EPA’s invaluable support is helping us bring the community together, promoting social, economic and cultural wellbeing during these difficult times.

Laura Burke, Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency said, “So we can imagine a better future it is up to us – as individuals – to take ownership of environmental issues and take action, both in our personal and business lives. Actions on a personal level to reduce carbon consumption have the associated benefits of healthier lives, better air quality and more local connection and engagement. We need to use our power as individuals and communities, to ask questions, and to support those who are addressing issues and genuinely trying to make a difference.”

The EPA’s headquarters is based in Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford and the Agency has been part of the local community for the last 25 years. It has worked with Wexford Festival Opera for many years through various EPA-led initiatives to raise awareness on a variety of environmental issues such as how we can all make choices about how we heat our homes; how we consume water and how we manage our wastes.

All of the events of the 69th Wexford Festival Opera are free-to-view online. Experience every moment via RTÉ.ie/Culture, RTÉ lyric fm, ARTE Opera & wexfordopera.com beginning on Sunday, 11 October to Sunday,18 October.

This year, more than ever, audiences across Ireland and around the world will have a chance to experience a taste of the magic of Wexford Festival Opera from the comfort and safety of their own home. This reimagined online Festival aims to bring audiences and the wider worldwide Wexford community together through the power of music. For full details of Waiting for Shakespeare... The Festival in the air and to download the brochure, go to wexfordopera.com Be sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel for all upcoming and past events. www.youtube.com/wexfordfestivalopera

Wexford Festival Opera would like to thank the Arts Council, RTÉ, Wexford County Council, Fáilte Ireland/Ireland’s Ancient East and the Festival’s Friends, sponsors and donors. It is only through their invaluable support that Wexford Festival Opera can, in turn, continue to reach out on a global scale to enrich, entertain and enlighten audiences during these uncertain times.

@wexfordfestivalopera / @wexfordopera

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CALENDAR OF POP-UP EVENTS

SUNDAY, 11 OCTOBER

12pm GREEN ACRES - Juliet at the balcony

2pm FRANK'S PLACE - Juliet at the balcony

MONDAY, 12 OCTOBER

12pm BARKER’S - Juliet at the balcony

2pm WESTGATE DESIGN - Juliet at the balcony

TUESDAY, 13 OCTOBER

12pm WHITE’S HOTEL - Symphonies on a (shoe)STRING

2pm WESTGATE DESIGN - Juliet at the balcony