The Sydney Opera House honours our First Nations by fostering a shared sense of belonging for all Australians, and we acknowledge the Gadigal, traditional custodians of Tubowgule, the land on which the Opera House stands.
The Choir of Man opens at the Sydney Opera House this summer. The international smash hit returns to Australia after sold-out US and European tours and direct from a four-year West End run that welcomed more than 280,000 people across a thousand performances.
Set in an on-stage pub, an ensemble of nine multitalented instrumentalists combine foot-stomping singalongs and rollicking entertainment in this uplifting and celebratory production. Featuring classic rock, pub anthems and pop hits from artists such as Queen, Adele, Guns & Roses, Paul Simon, Avicii and Sia, this riotous night out is the greatest trip to “the local” you’ll ever have.
Cast highlights: Mark Loveday (Barman), Ifan Gwilym-Jones (Maestro), Cal T King (Beast), Conor Mellor (Joker), George Knapper (Handyman), Paul McArthur (Poet), Kristian Morse (The Hard Man), Tyler Orphe-Baker (Bore), Tristan Whincup (Romantic). Resident Director and Swing Norton James, with Alex Mallalieu and Bradley Walwyn as Swings.
Creator and Director Nic Doodson: “The Choir of Man is about individuality, generosity, humour and the joy of making music together. It’s a celebration of connection and belonging, brought to life by extraordinary voices and a soundtrack you already know and love.”
Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Performance Harry Prouse: “Brimming with joy, The Choir of Man is an incredible success story… It’s pure entertainment – equal parts pub night and live gig, all in an ode to friendship.”
KEY INFORMATION
WHAT: The Choir of Man
WHEN: From 11 December 2026
WHERE: Studio, Sydney Opera House
PRICES: From $69.90 + $8.95 booking fee
INSIDERS PRE SALE: 9am, Tuesday 11 August
WHAT’S ON: 9am, Wednesday 12 August
GENERAL PUBLIC ON SALE: 9am, Friday 14 August
The highly anticipated “Spirited Away” concert by Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra brings the fun and excitement from the big and small screen to the concert stage this month.
The concert’s title comes from Spirited Away, the cult-classic animated film from 2001, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli with exquisite music scored by Joe Hisaishi. The movie was a landmark in animated cinema and told of a 10-yr old girl, Chihiro, who stumbled into a mystical spirit world. It is the 25th Anniversary for this and the iconic score The Fellowship of the Ring – just two of many powerful and evocative pieces the KPO presents in the popular-themed annual concert.
Spirited Away was the first hand-drawn, non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It has been hailed by many critics as one of the greatest animated films ever made. Its composer, Joe Hisaishi, has had a working relationship with the film’s director, Hayao Miyazaki, similar to the collaboration between John Williams and Steven Spielberg. Hisaishi and Miyazaki first worked together in 1983 and since then they have produced many of the most beloved animé films such as Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Princess Mononoke, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle. Several of Hisaishi’s animé scores have achieved over 100 million streams on Spotify, making him one of the most commercially successful film composers in history. Hisaishi’s music has been described as magic, emotional and diverse; blending minimalist piano, a grand orchestral sound and traditional Japanese elements. It moves smoothly from gentle and sad to bright and scary. Many will be familiar with the song of The Dragon Boy (on Netflix).
The Fellowship of the Ring, the first film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, won four Academy Awards, including Best Original Score at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002. Canadian composer, Howard Shore, scored all three Lord of the Rings films and continued his collaboration with director, Peter Jackson, in The Hobbit. Howard Shore has vast experience in a multitude of musical genres including jazz, rock, and pop and was the original music director on the iconic Saturday Night Live television program. His highly evocative music for the Lord of the Rings trilogy has made him one of the most influential composers for film.
Epic, atmospheric soundscapes from Nishiki Tsukasa Saitoh come next from the 2022 action video game The Elden Ring (main theme), weaving orchestral grandeur with haunting melodies. Star Wars Suite by John Williams adds intergalactic thrills. Multiple generations know the iconic opening credits “In a Galaxy far, far away” from the original 1977 movie by George Lucas, which went on to become a series of nine. Aram Khachaturian’s ‘Adagio from Spartacus’ was originally scored for the ballet Spartacus and later adapted for the TV series ‘The Onedin Line’. The music evokes classic sailing vessels and the grandeur of maritime adventure.
Jeremy Soule’s ‘Song of the Dragon Born’, blending classical and Nordic influences, is the iconic theme released in 2011 for the game Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Finally, KPO’s own Artistic Director Paul Terracini features, with his score for ‘Benjamin’ from the 1997 film Hymns of the Forefathers, which then became a popular TV series.
Don’t miss this spectacular musical event, Sunday 30 August from 3pm at the Concourse!
Tickets: Standard $60 | Concession $45 | Student/Child $30 | Family (4 tickets, max 2 adults) $150 Bookings and information: www.kpo.org.au
Prepare to be simultaneously charmed and berated by self proclaimed artist, incompetent anarchist, and lover of grapes. Award-winning clown and character comedian, Em Barrett will debut her cult comedy creation, Johann in Ode To A Grape at Melbourne Fringe 2026. An absurd exploration of artistic ambition, creative failure and the increasingly desperate search for meaning in late-stage capitalism.
With a diary full of inspiration (and sheep poo), Johann has arrived in Naarm to launch (or attempt to launch) his first poetry book. Unfortunately, the presentation is sidetracked by his hatred of society, his love for Elton John, and his ongoing frustration with capitalism. Will we ever hear the full book? Do we want to?
Developed over several years across theatre, stand-up comedy and immersive performance, Johann first appeared in Barrett’s award-winning solo work at New Zealand Fringe. Since then he has evolved into a fully realised comic antihero delivering unsolicited life advice, terrible poetry and increasingly grandiose declarations of artistic importance.
“Johann has been with me for over five years now! It’s been so fun to watch him evolve as his own character; from comedy, to theatre to real life poetry nights.” says Barrett, “He’s like a weird little brother that doesn’t always make the best choices in life, but you love him anyway because you know he’s trying his best.”
The strictly limited season at The Motley Bauhaus will feature open-captioned performances, increasing accessibility for d/Deaf and hard of hearing audiences. Directed by award winning comedian, storyteller, actor, and writer, Sameena Zehra, this is for the poetry lovers, poetry haters, or for those who simply enjoy watching a man ruminate and spiral in public, Ode To A Grape delivers a gloriously chaotic performance of clowning, character comedy and artistic catastrophe.
Join Johann for an unforgettable literary event that will change the course of history (or so he thinks).
Em Barrett: Ode To A Grape
VENUE: The Motley Bauhaus
DATES: 28 September – 3 October 2026
TIME: 6pm
WINNER of Tour Ready Award (New Zealand Fringe Festival)
Nominated for Most Talented Emerging Artist and Best Solo Performance (New Zealand Fringe Festival)
“Perfectly crafted” Theatrereview (NZ)
The Wagner Gala: A triumphant return of world-class opera to renewed Ian Potter State Theatre
Opera Australia will make a spectacular return to the newly refurbished Ian Potter State Theatre with a selection of Wagner’s most extraordinary pieces, including operatic arias and orchestral masterpieces, performed by some of the leading Wagnerian specialists of our time. The world-class cast will be led by acclaimed German Maestro Michael Güttler and will star British dramatic soprano Catherine Foster, known for her portrayal of Brünnhilde at the Bayreuth Festival, Russian tenor Sergei Skorokhodov, known for his powerful performances as Lohengrin and Tannhäuser and one of the Australia’s most versatile and in-demand baritones, James Clayton, who returns to sing with Opera Australia for the first time in over a decade.
16 October | Ian Potter State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Tickets from $89
La Bohème: A brand new, shimmering production to premiere in Melbourne
A lavish, brand-new production of La Bohème, by visionary young director Constantine Costi, will have its world premiere in Melbourne this November. Set in a snow-kissed Paris, this must-see production will breathe vivid new life into the opera that has inspired countless bohemian love stories. Australian rising star conductor Finnegan Downie will lead a luminous cast of international and Australian talent, including a homecoming season for Melbourne-born Alexandra Flood who will sing Musetta, while Galina Cheplakova and Valeria Sepe will break hearts sharing the role of Mimì and tenors Kang Wang and Paride Cataldo both take on the soaring melodies of Rodolfo.
7 – 18 November | Regent Theatre Melbourne, Tickets from $79
Opera Up Late: Opera’s naughtiest late-night party is back with more music, more glitz and more outrageous fun
The campest night at the opera is back: opera’s greatest late night party, Opera Up Late, hosted by the outrageous Reuben Kaye, returns to Melbourne’s Regent Theatre. A riotous celebration of all things opera, plus a few musical theatre classics and pop numbers for good measure, it’s both the perfect opportunity for newbies to pop their operatic cherries and aficionados to enjoy some of the most iconic arias as they’ve never seen, or heard, before. Award-winning director Shaun Rennie brings together a cast of fabulous singers for a night of big laughs and even bigger voices. Australia’s most highly awarded soprano, Emma Matthews, will be joined by Ruth Strutt, Daniel Macy and Anthony Mackey, all making a welcome return to the glittered Opera Up Late stage.
15 November | Regent Theatre Melbourne | Tickets from $79
The Trumpet of the Swan: For the first time in Australia, Jason Robert Brown’s charming introduction to musical storytelling
Symphony and storytelling bring E.B. White’s classic children’s novel The Trumpet of the Swan to life, with lively narration performed by a group of actors alongside a cinematic, lyrical score played live by Orchestra Victoria. Adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Marsha Norman and Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, this work, staged especially for families and children, is a charming testament to the power of music and a perfect introduction for young music lovers to live orchestral performance. A hit at its Kennedy Centre premiere, Opera Australia presents this delightful work on the Australian mainstage for the very first time.
20 – 22 November | Regent Theatre Melbourne, Tickets from $59
Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan: A searing Australian opera tells of real-life tragedy and triumph
Ravishing operatic work Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan will premiere in Melbourne at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse Theatre. Directed by Australian theatre and opera legend, Neil Armfield, this production is as deeply felt as it is thrillingly physical. Half a century since the infamous drowning of Dr George Ian Ogilvie Duncan, which ultimately led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in South Australia, Watershed turns the illicit into the sacred, through powerful choral music, solo voices and dance. Through a searing, no-punches-pulled libretto by Helpmann Award-winning playwright Alana Valentine and author Christos Tsiolkas (The Slap) and a luscious, ultimately transcendent score by Brisbane composer Joe Twist, this 5-star, “if I could give it 6 stars, I would” (Limelight), critically acclaimed production captures a significant turning point in Australian history.
21 – 28 November | Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne, Tickets from $59
Booking Information Group and concession prices available for most performances. Opera Australia Box Office | (03) 9685 3700 | opera.org.au Explore the season online https://opera.org.au/whats-on/melbourne
Spread the word on your favourite platform!
Subscribe to What's The Show
Reviews, show news and what is on, straight to your inbox.
