MORE than 1,000 people from the Thurrock area will attend the Paul Hamlyn performance of the Royal Ballet's Onegin on March 31 as part of the ongoing relationship between the Royal Opera House and Creative Partnerships Thames Gateway (Thurrock and Basildon).

Audience members at the special matinee performance will include staff, students and their families from 22 schools in Thurrock and Basildon.

The schools have been invited to the performance after participation in a series of courses and workshops led by the Royal Opera House Education team.

In January a total of 59 teachers from 36 different primary, secondary and special schools in Thurrock and Basildon attended a three-hour course in creative design based on the ballet Onegin.

In a separate initiative a group of pupils from Gable Hall School in Thurrock are taking part in a four-week prop-making course to explore Onegin's themes of illusion and reality.

The students design and produce props which they then showcase to audience members before the Paul Hamlyn performance.

The audience are invited to take part in a programme of free interactive events: Back-stage tours, costume, music workshops and pre-performance talks all add to the excitement of the day.

Paul Hamlyn audiences include youth and community groups, charities, arts organisations, schools, and hospital workers.

Thanks to the support of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, tickets have been offered for £5, £10 and £15.