Visual Story for Carmen
Visual Stories are intended to be used by everyone to help with their enjoyment and understanding of a Relaxed Performance.
You can use this information for all performances of Carmen at the Royal Opera House, but some of the information will be more relevant to the Relaxed Performance, which takes place 8 November 2026 at 3pm.
Relaxed Performances can help support neurodiverse audiences, those living with dementia and those who have learning disabilities or experience anxiety. These types of performances are also helpful if you are anxious about sitting in one place for a long time or need to access the bathrooms and exits quickly. In the House, coffee machines and hand driers are switched off and there won't be the usual bell announcing when to take your seats.
Our usual House rules do not apply to Relaxed Performances, but this can mean it might feel busy or sound noisy in the theatre and building.
Please note, Visual Stories contain spoilers. Please do not read if you do not want to know about the story, characters or content of Carmen by The Royal Opera.
About the performance
The story of Carmen is told through music, singing and acting. At points in the story some of the characters are upset, angry or scared. Some characters in Carmen are harmed violently. This is part of the performance and has been safely rehearsed.
Guidance
This production contains a depiction of murder and themes of a sexual nature and violence. There are gunshots in Act I with blank shots fired. These are loud.
Running times
The performance lasts approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes, including one interval, which occurs after Act II at 1 hour 35 minutes in. These timings are for the Relaxed Performance 8 November 2026 at 3pm.
Where the performance takes place
This performance takes place on the Main Stage in the Royal Opera House, which is a large, brightly-lit auditorium with red velvet seats and gold decorative details. There is a domed ceiling that is painted blue and gold.
For Relaxed Performances, the House lights will remain on, you should be able to see the faces of people sat around you. The lighting on stage has also been slightly adapted for the Relaxed Performance. For example, in Act 2, the neon pink nightclub lights and the headlights on the van will be dimmed. In Act 4, the grid lighting in the background will also be dimmed.
At the end of the performance all of the lights will come back on and people will begin to leave the theatre. It might feel busy but please take your time, there is no rush.
Information about the music
Carmen is an opera with music which will be performed by opera singers on stage, a chorus and the orchestra, who play from the pit in front of the stage.
You might not be able to see all the musicians from your seat but you will hear the music play. The music can be loud at points, with overlapping sounds.
For this Relaxed Performance, the sounds will be adapted so it is not as loud at other performances. For exmaple, the gunshots in Act 1 will be replaced with a ‘pop’ sound and the firecrackers set off by the children will make one loud bang.
Carmen is sung in French and the libretto – the words sung by the performers – will be translated from French into English and will be displayed on the surtitles screens, which are above the stage or near your seat.
The audience may cheer or clap throughout and this can be unpredictable. In Relaxed Performances there are no rules around being completely quiet so you might hear other people moving or talking around you.
You can wear ear defenders and Front of House staff can lend you some if you require them. They are sterilised between performances.
Before Carmen begins
A member of the cast or crew will come onto the stage to introduce themselves and tell you about the performance. They might talk about the different characters, any adaptions we have made to sound or lighting for this Relaxed Performance or information about the set.
Characters
The performers in this Visual Story may be different to the ones on stage. See our Cast Sheets page for up-to-date information on the cast.
The characters of Carmen
The Story
Act 1
Act 2
Interval – 25 minutes
Act 3
Act 4
Sensory Highlights
Read a more in-depth Sensory Guide for Carmen. Please note, like Visual Stories, Sensory Guides contain spoilers.
Sound:
There are gunshots in Act I. These are blank shots fired from a prop gun and are loud.
The music is performed by opera singers on stage, the chorus and the orchestra who play from the pit in front of the stage. Sometimes the music and singing is layered and can be loud.
Lighting:
In Act I, pyrotechnics are used to create fireworks, they are made by stage crews and are controlled.
In Act II, a van is driven onto the stage with its headlights facing the audience.
Prop cigarettes are smoked throughout and the smoke is made by stage crews and is controlled.
Content:
This production contains a depiction of murder and themes of a sexual nature and violence.
Action:
Throughout, there are scenes of fighting between different cast members, sometimes this is with weapons such as guns and knives.
There is a depiction of murder by strangling.
There are some scenes of a sexual nature where characters enact mild sex acts.
Our theatres
Here you will find a visual story and subtitled information videos about visiting the Royal Opera House and our Main Stage.
