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Rockdale Opera Company has been providing the highest quality opera, light opera and Gilbert & Sullivan productions at affordable prices since 1948.
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​Rockdale Opera Company is thrilled to announce the cast of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride coming to the stage this June. We have assembled an outstanding cast of singers and performers, bursting with comic flair, vocal brilliance, and just the right amount of aesthetic obsession. 

June 6, 7, 13, 14 at Rockdale Town Hall
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​DIRECTOR: JOHN ANTONIOU
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: DR. STEVEN STANKE
ASSISTANT MUSICAL DIRECTOR: TEOMAN AYHAN OZBAKIR
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aCAST
​Patience (a Dairy Maid) - Lana Kains 
Reginald Bunthorne (a Fleshly Poet) - Christopher Hamilton
Archibald Grosvener (an Idyllic Poet) - Jack Futcher
Col. Calverley (Officer of Dragoon Guards) - Gordon Costello
Major Murgatroyd (") - Daniel Rae
Lieut. the Duke of Dunstable (") - Michael Kaufmann
The Lady Jane (a Rapturous Maiden) - Megan Chalmers
The Lady Angela (") - Lisa Munckton
The Lady Saphir (“) - Avalon Gatenby
The Lady Ella (“) - Emelina Phillips 

Announcing our 2026 Season!

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OUR 2026 SEASON IS HERE!
Get ready for a spectacular year of drama, romance, wit and passion at Rockdale Opera Company — Australia’s oldest continuing opera company!
​THE MONK
A gothic chamber opera — and a World Premiere Workshop Performance!
Music by Steven Stanke
Libretto by Matthew Lewis
An eerie, atmospheric new Australian work you won’t want to miss!

8pm, Saturday 28 February 
Rockdale Town Hall​
​PATIENCE
​or, Bunthorne’s Bride
By Sir W. S. Gilbert & Sir Arthur Sullivan

A sparkling satire of art, love, and vanity — brimming with laughter and classic G&S charm!

June 6, 7, 13 & 14, 2026
Rockdale Town Hall
​SING WITH ROC
Back by popular demand! Join us for a joyful afternoon of community singing and musical celebration.

​Saturday 26 September 2026, 2pm
Rockdale Town Hall
​FAUST
By Charles Gounod
A timeless story of temptation, love, and redemption — with glorious music that will stir your soul.

​December 5, 6, 12 & 13, 2026
Rockdale Town Hall

Rockdale Opera Company Patrons Daniel Sumegi and Emma Matthews AM

A message from Daniel Sumegi

“As Australia’s oldest opera company, Rockdale Opera Company has provided a much-needed platform for young aspiring professionals to ‘tread the boards’ alongside the people that make up the bulk of the company - the true opera lovers. I made my solo debut at Rockdale 31 years ago as Fiorello in The Barber of Seville alongside the beautiful Deborah Riedel. Having then sung in four other productions with ROC in my early days, I moved out into the wider vocal world - where I have proudly been singing professionally since 1988.

Rockdale Opera Company is very much a community organisation and has been generously supported by the Rockdale City Council for many generations. The word ‘Rockdale’ resonates so powerfully throughout the operatic family and I sincerely hope this invaluable cornerstone of our culture continues to flourish”. 

A message from Emma Matthews AM

“I’m delighted to become a Patron of Rockdale Opera. I have such fond memories of performing with the company at the 2017 Fundraising Gala, and of the warmth, generosity, and genuine love of opera and the performing arts that defines this community. It is something quite special. 
 
Companies like Rockdale Opera play a vital role in the development of singers, offering valuable opportunities to build experience, explore repertoire, and grow in confidence on stage. Those early and ongoing performance opportunities are so important in shaping an artist’s journey.
 
I’m very proud to support the work ROC does, both in nurturing emerging talent and in bringing live opera to local audiences. It is a privilege to be part of a company so deeply committed to its artists and its community.”

Photo credit: Stephen Heath Photography
Proudly supported by Bayside Council
(Formerly Botany Bay & Rockdale City Councils)
Find out how you can become a ​sponsor or advertise with us here