Building a multi-year relationship with the Royal Opera House

Case Study #5

Tonic first partnered with the Royal Opera House in 2016 when they joined our Advance programme, interested in better understanding how to further their work with women ballet and opera conductors.

Since then, they have repeatedly invited us back to deliver work and act as ‘critical friends’ to the organisation’s work on equality, diversity and inclusion. Interventions have included working with ballet teachers participating in the Royal Ballet’s Chance to Dance programme; exploring casting policies and processes with the Royal Opera; facilitating sector-wide engagement and consultation; delivering Inclusive Management training to around 200 members of leadership and management across the entire house and supporting a range of internal staff conversations and working groups.

“Having Tonic as ‘critical friends’ has empowered the Royal Opera House and individuals within the organisation in many ways. From being a useful sounding board, to supporting strategic thinking for change and impact, to facilitating in depth work across departments on specific areas of work. Tonic’s expertise, care and structured way of working creates a safe space for us to reflect and better understand ourselves and situations, always resulting in clear actions that drive change and achieve the impact we want to make.”

KATE WYATT, CREATIVE PRODUCER, Royal Opera House