“Ellen Kent Productions” marks the start of a new era for Opera & Ballet International. The first production company, from which Ellen Kent Opera & Ballet International grew, was "Dual Control International Theatre" in 1985, started by Ellen Kent and Ellen's ex-husband Michael Bath, with support and funding from Rochester (Medway) and Gillingham Borough Council and South East Arts plus sponsorship from English Heritage.

From the success of this small company which began life in Ellen Kent's kitchen  came the first show "Vox Pop Victoria" which used a mini, lent to Ellen by a friend, as a mode of transport which fitted the entire set, costumes, two actresses and a technician. They opened their first performance on the Isle of Sheppey and Vox Pop Victoria turned out to be a resounding success and ended up in the Young Vic in London to great critical acclaim where it was favourably compared to Les Miserables. The company rapidly grew on the back of this success and after several more years of small scale productions Ellen went into European Children's Theatre and for many years was a leading producer of wonderful children's work across Europe bringing them to most British cities with backing from the Arts Council, South East Arts, Kent County Council and many more.

1992 - Ellen Kent took the giant leap into the world of opera quite by chance when she was asked to put on a foreign piece for the international summer festival in Rochester Castle by the council. She left behind the world of 7 French actors and 50 goldfish into an almost surreal world of Eastern European opera. She duly delivered Rochester (Medway) council 200 Romanians from the Romanian National Opera with their splendid, emotive production of Nabucco. This drew the same success that the first Vox Pop Victoria achieved, with a sell out performance to 7000 people and national press who wrote favourable reviews. Coupled with the fact that this was the first time foreign opera of this kind had come to Britain, this started Ellen on the road to massive opera touring which grew from one production into many, touring with the Latvian National Opera from Riga, Romanian National opera from Bucharest, Opera Milano, the Ukrainian National Opera from Odessa, the Brasov opera from Romania and last but by no means least the Chisinau National Opera from Moldova.

The Chisinau National Opera and Moldova have become Ellen's second home with a relationship extending over 11 years so it only seems a natural conclusion that Ellen should now establish her own production company to launch her performances of both opera and possibly ballet in her adopted country, Moldova.

Long gone are the days of touring in a borrowed mini. Ellen now has from 150 - 200 people on the road, three articulated lorries, numerous coaches, and minibuses as well as organising for charter and private planes to fly as far a-field as Doha and Beirut or to bring companies into the country to sing at the Royal Albert Hall and the biggest venues that exist in the UK and Eire.

Over the years Ellen has received enormous support from her many venues and corporate entertainment companies for which she has provided product to for many years. Particularly the support of LiveNation (previously Apollo Theatre and Clearchannel) and various councils, both local and regional; from artist Ralph Steadman and actor Dame Judy Dench, from many sponsors both in government and BSIS (Business Sponsorship Incentive Scheme).

In this new production company Ellen will be working for the first time with the Chisinau National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. The chorus have all been auditioned individually coming from various musical establishments. The sets and costumes for Carmen and Nabucco have been made for and are owned by Ellen Kent Productions. The soloists are the usual international mixture that Ellen likes to work with but there will always be an element of surprise with an Ellen Kent production as Ellen will continue her special effects to bring audiences something new.

Ellen has developed a new concept for the Autumn 2008 and Spring 2009 opera tours, magnificent traditional productions will be performed by handpicked international soloists alongside the full Chisinau National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus in an amphitheatre setting. Amphitheatre Productions was inspired by the early Greek theatre where the roots of opera began to provide a lot more than just a performance. Ellen Kent Amphitheatre Productions will be touring La Boheme, Tosca and Carmen in Autumn 2008 and Aida, Carmen and Turandot in Spring 2009 across the UK and Eire.