Who's there? dress rehearsal
A magical dance adventure about an unexpected friendship
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DATES:Feb 13 - March 31 2027
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STAGE:Scenkonstmuseet, Sibyllegatan 2
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ENTRANCE:Stentrappan
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STAGE:Stora salen
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RUNNING TIME:35 mins
What happens when someone unexpected steps into your world? The much-loved children’s ballet Who’s There? returns – an imaginative story about two lonely children whose worlds suddenly collide. In spring 2027, it will become Young Opera’s first production at the Swedish Museum of Performing Arts.
A boy is sad. A girl is angry. Each is playing alone in their own room when strange things begin to happen. Suddenly, they are both pulled into a trunk – and when they reappear, they have switched places.
At first they are frightened of each other, then curious. Soon they begin to play, quarrel and forgive. Their play turns into dance – and a friendship neither of them expected. But all games have to end … or do they?
In Who’s There?, children can experience classical ballet up close. Two dancers from the Royal Swedish Ballet enter a playful world where everything has been created from scratch: the story, Jenny Nilson’s choreography and Jonas Valfridsson’s specially composed symphonic score, recorded by the Royal Swedish Orchestra.
Who’s There? was warmly received at its world premiere in 2025. In spring 2027, it will become Young Opera’s first production on the stage of the Swedish Museum of Performing Arts – with the dancers so close that the audience can follow every step, glance and movement as two separate worlds become one.
For children aged 6 and over.
Synopsis Who's there?
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Two rooms, next to each other...
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) »-
Medverkande
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Kreativt team
Concept Jenny Nilson, Anna Berg
Choreography Jenny Nilson
Music Jonas Valfridsson
Set and costume design Sven Haraldsson
Lighting design Sofie Gynning
Dramaturg Magnus Lindman
Music recorded with the Royal Swedish Orchestra.
Conductor David Björkman
Cast subject to change.
Performance dates
Unga Operan to the Performing Arts Museum
From 2027, the Performing Arts Museum will become the permanent stage for Unga Operan during the approximately five years that the Opera House at Gustav Adolfs Torg is being renovated. This will be the start of a multi-year collaboration with the goal of jointly creating and making performing arts accessible to more children and young people.
At the same time, Unga Operan will continue its educational activities in schools and meeting places in Stockholm and other locations, as well as collaborations with cultural institutions around the country. The Museum of Performing Arts offers a permanent stage in the middle of central Stockholm and is easily reached by bus or tram to Nybroplan or metro to Östermalmstorg.
Trailer
Performance images
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Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025 -
Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025 -
Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025 -
Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025 -
Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025 -
Who's There? at the Royal Swedish Opera 2025
