Thanks to the initiative created by the philanthropist and sponsor Gordon Morrison, Chairman of the SGMS Group Regeneration in Harmony grew from his desire to give back to the community in which the company was working. project is to be known as 'Regeneration in Harmony'. The well-being and self-esteem of young school children in inner city London is the focus of this new and exciting initiative that was introduced in 2006. Initially a four-year project,‘Regeneration In Harmony’, saw, in its first stage,  junior and secondary schools in the Borough of Southwark embarking on a programme introducing the children and their surrounding communities to tai chi, music, dance and drama.

Surrey Square Junior School in Southwark was chosen as a pilot for this, with the intention of involving more schools in the area to participate in a combined performance of the world acclaimed opera Carmen in the Unicorn Theatre Summer of 2007. Rehearsals for this started in the Spring of 2007. Tai Chi was used as an introduction to self-generated self esteem, well being and positive use of energy.

A team of professionals from Suffolk-based company First Act Opera, spent time getting to know the children at Surrey Square and nurturing their self-esteem through the Tai Chi and also structured music and drama workshops. With highlights such as ‘Granny Can You Rap?’ the conclusion of a daylong ‘intergenerational’ drama workshop, the children demonstrated their Tai Chi forms and danced African Body Percussion led by Oliver Heath. Professional opera soloists, artistic director and an invited audience of parents and members of their local community enjoyed the performance. Those participating experienced all the aspects of performance from the generation of ideas through to preparation for auditioning and the performing itself. 

Once this first milestone was reached, two other schools in the area, Walworth Secondary School and Victory Primary School became involved in the project to rehearse for an adapted public production of the opera Carmen in July 2007. The cast was made up of a combination of pupils of all ages from all three schools, plus a selection of professional principals from First Act Opera. 

John von Nuding, founder of First Act Opera said "the idea for Regeneration in Harmony came from my work in schools over the past 20 years. When Gordon Morrison approached me we created a number of activities where children could be helped to realise their potential, whatever their background or social status. The adaptation of the Carmen includes elements of dance that incorporate and extend the multifaceted ethnic origins of Flamenco and Moorish African Culture on Southern Spain, where opera is set. There is a new English translation by librettist and artistic director, Fraser Grant, who ensures that children enjoy fullparticipation by actually writing their own lyrics to the elements of the opera they sand themselves. They therefore really understood and enjoyed participating. This occurred to the extent that they forgot they were performing in an elitist ‘opera’; rather they engaged in popular culture."