I now, I then (from Mrs Dalloway)
Mrs Dalloway, Woolf’s 1925 stream of consciousness novel, is set over the course of one day and alternates between two stories: a society hostess preparing for an important party and a shell-shocked war veteran on his way to a psychiatric assessment. Though they never meet, both Clarissa, the protected insider and Septimus, the social outcast, are haunted by the past. Opening with an excerpt from Woolf’s recorded essay, On Craftsmanship, I now I then is a journey into the writing of Mrs Dalloway, interweaving narrative fragments from the novel with aspects of Woolf’s autobiography including the experience of drawing on her own mental illness as subject matter.
Becomings (from Orlando)
‘on or about December 1910 human nature changed’ – Virginia Woolf
Written in an epoch of recalibration in every sphere including the roles and rights of women, modes of representation in art and literature, and rapid advances in cosmology, Woolf’s iconoclastic 1928 novel Orlando centres around a fantastical figure who journeys through three hundred years without growing old, and changes sex along the way. Relationships prove transient, even with himself, while relativity and plasticity define her experience of time and space. Becomings presents Orlando’s dizzying wide-angle vision of a vast, ever-altering universe in which life is energy passing through a multiplicity of forms – a brief, gorgeous flaring of insect wings, gestating, emerging, extinguishing and moving on.
Tuesday (from The Waves)
Grand and elegiac, The Waves (1931) is Woolf’s most experimental novel, conceived in response to her own childlessness and the contrasting fierce maternity of her sister Vanessa. In the novel, the voices of six people growing from childhood to old age are punctuated by symbols of natural decay and renewal, the most important of which is the ever-returning sea. Responding to Woolf’s unique fascination with underwater imagery in all her writing, Tuesday merges themes of The Waves with a portrayal of the writer’s suicide by drowning. As Woolf counts her steps towards the river Ouse and her final journey, so too the world of her novel moves towards abstraction and silence.
📍 Venue Description:
The Royal Opera House is a monumental venue, offering some of the world’s finest operatic experiences, right in the heart of London. Known for its stunning productions and rich history, it is a must-visit for any opera enthusiast. As a cornerstone of the cultural scene, it’s the perfect gateway to explore the vibrant offerings of <a href=" https://www.londontheatredirect.com/opera">London opera</a>, showcasing a blend of traditional and contemporary works.
It is the home of The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Originally called the Theatre Royal, it served primarily as a playhouse for the first hundred years of its history. In 1734, the first ballet was presented. A year later Handel's first season of operas began. Many of his operas and oratorios were specifically written for Covent Garden and had their premieres there.
The current building is the third theatre on the site following disastrous fires in 1808 and 1857. The façade, foyer and auditorium date from 1858, but almost every other element of the present complex dates from an extensive reconstruction in the 1990s. The Royal Opera House seats 2,268 people and consists of four tiers of boxes and balconies and the amphitheatre gallery. The proscenium is 12.20 m wide and 14.80 m high. The main auditorium is a Grade 1 listed building.
✨ Experience the magic of
Woolf Works, where moments become memories that last a lifetime! 🏛️ The iconic
Royal Opera House in
London,
EN sets the perfect stage for an unforgettable celebration on
January 17th, 2026 at
01:00 PM. 🌟 It's been a curated experience that brings together the best of entertainment and innovation, creating an atmosphere of wonder and excitement. From the moment you arrive, you'll be immersed in a world where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary. 🎟️ Tickets are available at
43.00 GBP. 🎊 Book early to secure your place in what promises to be an event that will be talked about for years to come!
Also check out other Arts events in London, Literary Art events in London, Theatre events in London.
