The Thames Opera Company is preparing to shatter preconceptions of the opera genre with their forthcoming concert, Opera for All.

The special show is set for Saturday, April 20 at Basildon's Towngate Theatre.

The event promises to dissolve traditional stereotypes associated with opera by making the art form more accessible.

The company chorus, formed in 2020, consists of people who previously had no opera experiences yet have now become part of the thriving local artistic community.

The Thames Opera Company, based in Purfleet, will be performing alongside acclaimed singers including baritone Roderick Williams, a soloist at King Charles III's coronation ceremony.

Other international opera stars such as Luis Gomez, Anita Watson, and Nancy Holt will grace the stage.

In addition, promising opera talent Blaize O’Callaghan will be introduced to the audience.

One of the chorus members, June Bull, said: "It’s such a thrill to sing alongside such top professionals, I can’t really believe we’ll be sharing a stage with them."

BBC Radio 3's Ian Skelly is set to host the event, guiding the audience through some of the most popular opera pieces, presented in a dynamic yet informal setup.

The aim of Opera for All is to shift perceptions and introduce opera to newcomers as an art form which fits comfortably into everyday life, including in films, advertisements, television shows, and even as ringtones.

The Thames Opera Company encourages locals to attend, opening up the possibility of newfound affinity for the typically divisive genre.