Starting in April 2025, award-winning homelessness charity Streetwise Opera is delivering free weekly singing and creative workshops aimed at people with lived experience of homelessness at St John’s Waterloo. You are welcome to join us on Wednesdays, from 4pm to 6pm, at St John’s Waterloo. No need to book; you can just drop in!*
Led by world-class opera artists, these sessions are a great opportunity to develop confidence and communication skills and widen your social circle. Some participants go on to perform in special events, while others simply enjoy the weekly sessions – it’s up to you!
These workshops are a place to explore creativity, build confidence, and be part of something special. Streetwise Opera most recent project, Re:Discover, delivered at St John’s Waterloo, was recognised with a prestigious 2025 RPS Award!
The workshops include gentle physical and voice warmups, lots of singing and artistic co-creation opportunities. New to singing? No problem! These sessions are relaxed, welcoming, and all about having fun together. No previous musical or performance experience is required.
We aim to make our sessions accessible to everyone. If you have any questions about access, get in touch via info@streetwiseopera.org.
AUTUMN 2025
24 September 2025 | Session 1 |
01 October 2025 | Session 2 |
08 October 2025 | Session 3 |
15 October 2025 | Session 4 |
22 October 2025 | Session 5 |
29 October 2025 | Session 6 |
05 November 2025 | Session 7 |
12 November 2025* | Session 8 |
19 November 2025* | Session 9 |
26 November 2025 | NO SESSION |
03 December 2025* | Session 10 |
10 December 2025* | Session 11 |
*From 12 November onwards, sessions have been relocated to another venue as Streetwise Opera starts to prepare for the theatre stage later in Spring 2026. For more information reach out to Rowan Padmore, London Regional Producer on 07936 417934 or at rowan.padmore@streetwiseopera.org.
Streetwise Opera is an opera company that enables people who’ve experienced homelessness to find inspiration and empowerment while they rebuild their lives and identities. We support participants to develop as creative people and, as we amplify their voices, change how society views homelessness.
We engage world-class artists, both established and emerging, to co-create bold new work and reimagine traditional repertoire. We create opera that is for everyone and, by bringing together diverse voices, change how society views opera.
We run a programme of singing and creative workshops in London, Manchester and Nottingham, that inspires and empowers people who are recovering from homelessness. As they engage with our work, Streetwise Opera performers improve their wellbeing and rebuild their social networks, and we have a robust evaluation system that helps us demonstrate the difference we make.
People who experience homelessness very often suffer from a diminished sense of self-worth and low expectations about what they can achieve and what they can expect from life. Streetwise Opera performers reinvent themselves as creators who make the world more beautiful and have the power to bring audiences to their feet. This gives them the confidence and inspiration to rebuild their lives.
Our regular workshops provide a dependable source of fun and creativity for people who are often let down by society and services, while our productions offer a platform for people to share their skills and talents, redefining opera and who it is for.
