London Youth Opera
New Opera.
An Unforgettable Adventure.
London Youth Opera brings young performers together with professional artists and musicians to create and perform new opera.
More Than 50 Years of New Opera
Since 1971, we’ve created and staged original operas for young performers. Explore three of our recent productions.
More Than a Performance.
LYO casts don’t simply step into an existing show. They help bring a world premiere to life.
- Perform a World Premiere
- Young performers help bring new opera to life.
- Make It Your Own
- The cast helps shape the piece through rehearsal and performance.
- Find Your People
- Make friends, grow in confidence and build something together.
“It’s extraordinary. This opera company is keeping the flame of opera alive for a new generation.”
“My daughters entered their 7th season, as excited as before their first auditions. I have watched their confidence grow and develop, watched them learn to sing and perform, but there is one other magical piece: the amazing friendships that they have made! Season after season, this has been an experience they will never forget!”
Current Production · 2026
TAY
A comic but cautionary tale about artificial intelligence and what it means to be human.
Inspired by the true story of Tay, the Twitter-based chatbot, TAY takes us back to the distant past of 2016: an online world where friends are turning against friends, trolls are multiplying and humanity is struggling to connect.
Could an artificial intelligence bring everyone back together?
- Venue
- The Shaw Theatre, London
- Dates
- 12 & 13 December 2026
- Times
- 3.30pm & 7pm
Gareth Mattey, librettist Marco Galvani, composer
TAY 2026Join London Youth Opera
Our 2026 production is now fully cast - but applications for our 2027 production will open in June 2027.
LYO welcomes young performers aged 9–18 who are based in London. No one should be prevented from taking part because of cost, and bursaries are available.
Register your interest now and we’ll let you know when applications open.
- Ages 9–18
- Applications open June 2027
- Bursaries available
Create the Next London Youth Opera.
We’re inviting applications from writers and composers to create new operas for our 2028 and 2029 productions.
Every LYO production begins with a brand-new work written specifically for young performers.
Commissioning+ 2029
Support the Next Generation of Opera
- 01Create brand-new opera
- 02Work with professional artists & musicians
- 03Provide bursaries so cost is never a barrier
Your support helps LYO create ambitious new work, work with professional artists and musicians, and ensure that cost is never a barrier to taking part.
Support LYO