Spotlight: Royal Opera House
To mark the unveiling of new stage curtains at the Royal Opera House, The Julia Rausing Trust shares the first in a new series of short films highlighting some of the organisations it supports.
The new stage curtains were made possible with support from the Trust. The Trust donated £10 million to fund the replacement of the curtains, alongside major upgrades to staging and lighting infrastructure to improve the environment for both artists and the audience.
For nearly three decades, the previous curtains opened and closed on more than 10,000 performances. Having reached the end of their lifespan, the replacement marks both a practical renewal and a symbolic moment for one of the UK’s most important cultural institutions.
In this film, Simon Fourmy, Chief Executive of the Trust, and Sir Alex Beard, CEO of Royal Ballet and Opera, reflect on the significance of the House, Julia Rausing’s connection to it, and the importance of continued investment in its future.
7th May 2026