OPERA and Essex? If you believed the stereotypes, you wouldn’t think the two were natural bedfellows.

One is often maligned as snobby and elitist, expensive and exclusive, while the other is usually summed up in a series of colourful catchphrases from the tango-tanned, lipglossed mouths of the cast of the Only Way is Essex.

But cinema screenings of much-loved operas are selling out, swathes of people are getting involved with community projects at the Royal Opera House in Purfleet, and ever-growing crowds are heading for events, like the Roman River Festival.

While it may be some time before Arg, Sam and the rest of the Towie gang launch into any of Puccini’s arias, the rest of the county is busy dipping its toe into the host of opera opportunities on offer in the area.

From community workshops at the Royal Opera House’s High House Production Park, where you can work on sets and costumes that will appear this summer on stage at their prestigous Covent Garden headquarters, to smaller local productions and free – or inexpensive – screenings at cinemas, there’s plenty to allow you to explore the art form without forking out for top price tickets and travelling up to London.

Cellist and conductor Orlando Jopling is artistic director of the Roman River Festival, which runs along the Roman River Valley, in north Essex.

Asked why he’s so dedicated to opening up the fields of opera and classical music to the masses, he said: “It’s the most important thing any musician can do.

“I just feel passionately that aEssex is so maligned, but there’s a huge amount of interest in culture.”

Orlando, who grew up in Colchester, not only founded the prestigious Stanley Hall Festival, but is the artistic director of the Roman River Festival, which last year brought enthusiastic members of the community together to learn an abridged version of La Boheme, which they performed the next day.

“The Come and Sing idea was one of the most memorable things I’ve ever been part of,” says Orlando. “They met at 10am on Saturday and the next day at 5pm they did a performance.

“Everything was learnt in those two days, and all by ear, so you didn’t need to be able to read music. You could learn and be part of it.

“The feedback from some people was that it was just the best thing they’d ever done. We’ll definitely be doing it again.”

The community event was the seed of a project Orlando hopes to bring to fruition over the next few years – although he admits it would be a huge challenge.

“My five-year dream is to put on a community opera as part of the Roman River Festival,” he says. “A great story would be something about one of the oyster fishermen – they’re so associated with Colchester.

“That’s going to take a huge amount of planning, but it’s a kind of dream I have to work with all sections of the community – young people, old people, maybe people with special needs, maybe kids who might never have had any experience in opera or even music before.”

Another reason he’s so keen to bring opera and classical projects to Colchester is a desire to fulfill the thirst for such events that he sees.

“The touring opera doesn’t really go there,” he says. “The professional orchestras don’t really visit Colchester. And yet there’s this hunger for good-quality classical music and I’m sure for opera as well.”

It’s not unfair to say that if you were drawing up an opera-buff town shortlist in the county, Basildon probably wouldn’t be near the top.

However the town’s Festival Leisure Park has proved a surprise hub after selling out screenings of Royal Opera House productions.

Bunty Murtagh, 70, Chestnut Road, Pitsea, was one of the many who dropped into the Empire Cinema to catch a screening direct from Covent Garden of Rigoletto.

Bunty says: “It’s disconcerting not being able to applaud spontaneously as you would at a truly live performance. Also, the close-ups showed Rigoletto sweating, and when I clearly should have been moved I became more concerned about Gilda’s dress getting stained when she had to hug him! But at £15 for a ticket? Good value.”

Cinema manager Phil Peirce says: “Sadly, I think a few TV shows have given the impression people in Essex are largely unsophisticated, but this shows people in Basildon, and Essex as a whole, really want to see these sorts of things.”

To get involved in events across Essex, here are our top choices.

Roman River Festival Various locations, north Essex. September 29 to October 7, booking opens July 5 Tickets from romanriverfestival 2012.blogspot.co.uk or call 01206 729 356 The Cunning Little Vixen, Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester. June 10, 6.30pm, £25, concessions available. Call 01206 577067 Screened live from Glyndebourne, Leos Janacek’s charming opera based on a series of newspaper cartoon strips, follows the adventures of the mischevious vixen Bystrouska.

Stanley Hall Opera, Stanley Hall, Halstead. June 16-24, various events, £16-£100. Call 01787 472315 The programme this year has a double bill of Mozart’s Impresario and Pagliacci, Macbeth from all-male Shakespearean group the Chamberlain’s Men, and the Sword in the Stone from the Cambridge Touring Theatre.

Bob and Tamar Monoukian Production Tour, Royal Opera House High House Production Park, London Road, Purfleet. June 15/22/July 4, £5. Call 020 7304 4000 Discover the world of scenic artists and craftspeople building the stunning sets and scenery.

...AND SOME TIPS FOR GETTING INTO OPERA AT COVENT GARDEN Royal Opera House Welcome Days: Tickets £5 to £20. There are pre-performance activities and workshops for families.

School matinees: Six special susbisided shows per year.

Cheap student tickets: Follow the opera house on Facebook or register as a student.

Be quick: Get an advance programme to help you book in advance – for tickets costing £30 or £40 instead of £200.

Become a friend of the Royal Opera House.