Children & youth | World Premiere

Who's there?

Knock, knock

An illustration of a boy and a girl on either side of a box.
  • DATES:
    Sept 20 - Oct 5
  • STAGE:
    Rotundan
  • ON TOUR:
    Oct 15 - Nov 30

Who's there? is a beautiful dance tale about meeting and being seen exactly as you are, with ingenious scenography, imaginative melodies and classical ballet!

Price

Young Opera present the ballet Who’s There? (Vem där?) a dance saga about how loneliness can be turned into play, friendship and imagination through a magic portal. With choreography by former principal dancer Jenny Nilson, magnificent symphonic music and ingenious set design for children from the age of six. A classical ballet saga about being allowed to be yourself.

Special thanks to Wallenius. A collaboration with Riksteatern.

  1. One act

    35 mins

  • »Charming ballet about the essence of friendship«
  • »Jenny Nilsson's choreography is emotionally driven and fast-paced«
  • »playful meeting between him and her«
  • »an adventurous dance tale for children«
  • »Nordquist and Davidsson make a nice, attuned pair on stage«

    Synopsis Who's there?

    • Two rooms, next to each other. The walls are invisible. The boy goes into his room, takes off his backpack, he is low and sad. The girl goes into her room, throws off her backpack, she is angry. Both of them play separately until they get tired of it. Neither of them is happy with their situation. Suddenly, various things in their rooms start moving in a mysterious way – magic is in the air. There is a big toy box in both the girl's and the boy's room and they are drawn towards it and step into it and disappear. They reappear but now the boy is in the girl's room and the girl is in the boy's room. They are amazed to find themselves in the wrong room, a mirrored version of their usual room, and then they see each other. They are horrified, then curious, and finally they start playing with each other. After arguing and forgiving, their play develops into dancing – they experience something absolutely wonderful and magical together. But all games have an end... right?

    Are you visiting the performance with a school class? Download the teacher's guide and talk to the children about your experience.else!

    Teacher's guide Who's There? (in Swedish) »
    Two people standing in a room, next to a bed.

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    Difficult to find tickets? Maybe you would like Sleeping Awake: a marvellous small-format opera production with a score that sounds like a combination of Tchaikovsky and Tom & Jerry - for children from the age of 6 yrs!

    Buy your ticket here »

    Trailer

    Performance images

    • Vem där? Kungliga Operan 2025 2.
      Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025
    • A male dancer lifts a female dancer on a dark stage.
      Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025
    • Vem där? Kungliga Operan 2025 4.
      Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025
    • A boy with a slightly sly look peeks out from a toy box.
      Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025
    • Vem där? Kungliga Operan 2025 3.
      Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025
    • A girl with a trident and devil horns scares a boy on a stage.
      Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025
      • Medverkande
      • Kreativt team

        Concept Jenny Nilson, Anna Berg
        Choreography Jenny Nilson
        Music Jonas Valfridsson
        Set and costume design Sven Haraldsson
        Lighting design Sofie Gynning
        Head repetiteur Joakim Stephenson

        Music recorded with the Royal Swedish Orchestra.
        Conductor David Björkman 

      Cast subject to change.

      Dates

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