In light of the ongoing risks posed by COVID-19 and the impact of restrictions on the live performance sector, State Opera wishes to advise that the productions of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Macbeth have been postponed until 2021.
Executive Director Yarmila Alfonzetti said today “the health, safety and wellbeing of our audiences, artists, and orchestras remains the highest priority. Such considerations, combined with the considerable logistics required to stage large operas, mean that we have had to make the difficult decision to postpone these productions until 2021 when we hope that the world is a safer place.”
The company is pleased to be able to confirm that the November 2020 season of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll will go ahead as scheduled at Her Majesty’s Theatre. The Australian opera by Richard Mills and Peter Goldsworthy has a cast of seven Australian-based singers, a small orchestral ensemble, and is a new production – factors that make the season possible in spite of the current travel restrictions, international logistics, and work health safety considerations.
“We are fortunate that the creative flexibility in our new production of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll means that we can go ahead and present it as scheduled, in the glorious new Her Majesty’s Theatre. Doll holds such a special place in the collective heart of so many of us that it seems a fitting tribute to the Australian creative spirit that this is the show of 2020 that will bring State Opera back to the stage” said Artistic Director Stuart Maunder AM.
POSTPONED
Sweeney Todd, scheduled for 3-10 Oct 2020 has been postponed until 2021, dates to be advised.
Macbeth, scheduled for 12-21 Nov 2020 has been postponed until 2021, dates to be advised.
Joseph Calleja, Scheduled for 7 Oct 2020 has been postponed until 11 September 2021.
AS SCHEDULED
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, 18-20 Nov 2020, at Her Majesty’s Theatre – tickets through BASS
Maunder says of the challenges the company faces “The cast for Macbeth – a magnificent collection of Australian singers, are currently scattered from Paris to Perth. The sets and costumes for Sweeney Todd are in different countries, and we have no assurance we can seat enough patrons to make a run economically viable.”
State Opera had been due to open its 2020 season with Carl Orff’s epic Carmina Burana in March, then Lindy Hume’s production of The Barber of Seville and international Baroque superstars Les Arts Florissants, both in May. This was to be followed by the 20th-anniversary tour of Bran Nue Dae in August.
Yarmila Alfonzetti, Executive Director of State Opera said “State Opera recognises that these are extraordinary times. As a flagship arts organisation, we do not take the decision to postpone a performance lightly. Stuart and I are committed to supporting the talented singers, artists and creatives who reside at the core of this company, and I assure you that these wonderful people will be on our stages and in our productions as soon as possible. We know we can count on our audiences, partners and broader community to support each other at this time.”
In accordance with the rights of ticket holders under the Live Performance Award, all patrons of performances suspended under COVID-19 restrictions are eligible for a full refund via ticketing partner BASS. All refunds will be automatic and issued within 10 days of event cancellation. Enquiries should be directed to [email protected] or 131 246.
SUPENDED PERFORMANCES – as of Wednesday 1 July 2020
Carmina Burana – 27 March 2020, Memorial Drive
The Barber of Seville – 7-16 May 2020, Festival Theatre
Lest Arts Florissant – 15 May 2020, Festival Theatre
Teddy Tahu Rhodes – 5 April 2020, Adelaide Town Hall
Sing Your Own Opera – 18-20 June 2020, State Opera Studio
Bran Nue Dae – 19-23 August, Her Majesty’s Theatre
Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – 3-10 October 2020, Her Majesty’s Theatre
Macbeth – 12-21 November 2020, Her Majesty’s Theatre
Stuart Maunder and Yarmila Alfonzetti are both available for comment.
All media enquiries please direct to
Gabrielle Leonello
Littelion PR
0425 554 454
