Name: The Royal Opera House, Opera House, (Indoors)
Most of us in Mumbai have heard of and/or headed to Opera House. It’s a place. (internal dialogue) Why is the place called Opera House? Well, long back there used to be an opera house here. A place where operas were performed. Really? Really.
And now here we are, heading to see the place that named a whole district, having heard of the excitement that took place a few years ago, when we knew that the opera house was being restored. What would that mean? How would the place look? I’ve imagined and imagined the Opera House so much that last Saturday, after seeing a quiet Facebook notification of a guided walkthrough to the Royal Opera House, I dragged my 13-year-old daughter and headed there.
As you pass Chowpatty and then race through Charni Road station, you see the gable of the building and your heart swells. It is there. Tucked in, in the crowded lanes, yet not tucked in. Go there and you’ll see what I am saying. And, for the first time, it was more splendid that I imagined.
Here’s some history:
• The Royal Opera House is India’s only surviving opera house.
• It was built over a hundred years ago in 1912, even though a few additions were made to it in 1915.
• In 1909 when the foundation stone was laid by the British Raj and subsequently when in 1911 King George V inaugurated the building, while the building was still under construction, the word Royal got prefixed to ‘Opera House’ to reflect the monarchy that had been here.
• A baroque design incorporating a blend of European and Indian detailing was chosen for the structure.
• The design was conceived in 1908 by Maurice Bandmann, an entertainer from Kolkata and his partner Jehangir Framji Karaka, who was the head of a firm of coal brokers.
• The ceiling was constructed to enable even those in the gallery to hear every word uttered by the performers.
• Twenty-six rows of boxes behind the stalls were put up for the best view of the stage.
• In 1935 Ideal pictures bought it and restored and renovated it to a full-fledged movie theatre.
• Until the 1980s the Royal Opera House was a booming movie theatre, until the advent of videos and it started dwindling like all single movie theaters dwindled.
• In January 1991 the last movie was screened here and it closed its doors.
• In 1952 it was bought by the Royal family of Gondal in a 999-year lease.
When you walk into this place you can’t help being wowed by this elegant but imposing structure. Kruti Garg, an integral part of the architectural team of Abha Narain Lambha who was given the task of restoring the ROH, and Asad Lalljee, Curator of the Royal Opera House take us through the history of the ROH and how the restoration was approached. As we walked through the ROH, Garg guided the group on the fabric assessment undertaken to understand the pulse of the structure, the character, the inherent qualities of the structure and its space, the style and what it was made of, what it could evolve to be. A packed house of college students and adults listened to how all the pieces were put together, and how the right strategy to create a process was chosen, integrating it with world class sound systems that were installed, taking care that it did not intrude on the heritage structure and its seamless repair.
All of this so that Mumbaikars have access to a multi-performing art space and for everyone to re-experience debate, dialogue, discourse, dance, and of course the opera. In December the ROH will be hosting a children’s literature festival but in the meantime, do head to the Opera House with your kids to experience performance at its best.
The walkthrough can be accessed for a group of children if the team at the ROH is informed in advance.
Where: Royal Opera House, Mumbai, Mama Parmanand Marg, Mumbai
Best for: (age group and sex): Boys and girls from age 10 upwards
How to reach: The easiest way is to get off at Charni Road station and walk. Depending on which area you live, there are a number of bus routes passing close.
Timings: open all days, from 10am to 6pm
Budget: Walkthroughs for children will be done if there is a group in place and on prior notice. Fee for the same will depend on group size. To get in touch for group walkthrough of the Royal Opera House, write to: [email protected] or call 022 – 23668888.
Food & Water: There’s a cafeteria within the premise, but no food and water allowed to be carried in the main hall.
Rest Room facilities: Yes
Where else to go: Well the Girgaum Chowpatty is close at hand, as is the Taraporewala Aquarium. If you are heading towards Sobo, you can stop at the Mahendra Park at Breach Candy or, the Hanging Gardens further up.
Parent Poll: Loved the piece of history, the infinite, painstaking work done to restore the ROH, proud that we can experience this rich heritage structure again.
(rating): ****
Kids’ Poll: Stunned by the sound system and the detailed sculpturing and the box seats. “Imagine being part of an opera here!” said my wonderstruck daughter.
(rating): ***
What’s Good: Experiencing history, travelling back in time.
What’s Not So Good: Not accessible for people with disabilities. There are no wheelchair ramps and no adequate rails to support assisted climbing of the stairs. No parking available close by.
Safety tip: Safe space
