Discover the fascinating world of the craftspeople who create stunning costumes, scenery and sets for the Royal Opera House on a tour of the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop and Costume Centre.
Discover the fascinating world of the craftspeople who create stunning costumes, scenery and sets for the Royal Opera House on a tour of the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop and Costume Centre.
High above the surrounding rooftops, the enormous, purpose-built Production Workshop is home to scenic painters, carpenters and metalworkers. Here they make the designers' visions into reality, creating the many different sets that appear in the ballet and operas performed on the Royal Opera House stage in Covent Garden.
Set in the High House Production Park in Purfleet, amid beautifully landscaped gardens, the Production Workshop is a fascinating and inspiring places to discover the skills behind theatre and costume construction and design.
This tour takes place in the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop a purpose-built, state-of-the-art theatre craft workshop. Due to maintenance, from February to June 2024 Thurrock tours will not include access to the costume store and workroom. Instead, your tour will include a rare visit to our wigs store, opera shoe store and costume display area.
Please note: Upon arrival, please assemble outside the Coachman's Café ten minutes before the start of the tour. The tour guide will collect you from there. The Coachman's Café is open for snacks and drinks before or after your tour.
If arriving by car, please enter the site via the address below:
Main High House Production Park Entrance: Vellacott Close (off London Road), Purfleet, Essex, RM19 1RJ
If arriving by coach, please enter the site via the address below:
Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop Entrance: Purfleet By-Pass, Purfleet, RM19 1TT
If arriving by public transport, your closest mainline train station is Purfleet on the C2C route. These trains operate from London Fenchurch Street and head across the Essex county. When disembarking the train, exit the station and turn left. You will follow the road (A1090) for 1.9 miles. Follow the road all the way to the entrance of High House Production Park which will be on your left hand side. This part of the journey will take 20-25 minutes so please factor this in to your overall journey time.
The tour route is fully accessible to wheelchair users. Please advise the Box Office at the time of booking if you have any access requirements. The Production Workshop and Costume Centre are large buildings and stairs may need to be used on the tour route. Please note that there is no possibility of seating during a tour and there are no cloakroom facilities available.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)