Our past productions
For more than 75 years, Rockdale Opera Company has delighted audiences with an extraordinary range of operas, operettas and Gilbert & Sullivan productions. From timeless classics by Verdi, Donizetti and Mozart to the wit of Lehar, Strauss and Gilbert & Sullivan and exciting contemporary works, each production reflects our commitment to artistic excellence and community theatre.
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Explore our production archive to revisit memorable performances, discover the stories behind our shows, and celebrate the rich history of Australia's oldest continuously operating opera company.
Cast
Lana Kains as Patience (a Dairy Maid)
Christopher Hamilton as Reginald Bunthorne (a Fleshly Poet)
Jack Futcher as Archibald Grosvenor (an Idyllic Poet)
Gordon Costello as Colonel Calverley (Officer of Dragoon Guards)Â
Michael Kaufmann as Lieut. the Duke of Dunstable (")
Daniel Rae as Major Murgatroyd (")
Megan Chalmers as The Lady Jane (a Rapturous Maiden)
Lisa Munckton as The Lady Angela (")
Avalon Gatenby as The Lady Saphir (")
Emelina Phillips as The Lady Ella (")
Director: John AntoniouÂ
Musical Director: Dr. Steven Stanke
Assistant Musical Director: Teoman Ayhan Ozbakir
February 2026
The Monk by Steven Stanke
Rockdale Opera Company is proud to have presented the world premiere of a new Australian opera in a workshop performance of The Monk, a gothic chamber opera by Steven Stanke. Inspired by Matthew Gregory Lewis’s notorious 1796 novel, The Monk is set in Madrid, where piety, desire, and the supernatural collide.Â
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Cast
Daniel Verschuer as Ambrosio (the Monk)Â
Elizabeth Cooper as Rosario/Mathilda (a monk)
Galatea Kneath as Antonia (a young villager)Â
Camilla Wright as Leonella (Antonia’s aunt)
Brett Crocker as Father Pablos (a monk)
Jeremy Potts as Demon (a youth)
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Musical Director: Dr. Steven Stanke
Pianists: Teoman Ayhan Ozbakir and Areg Hakobyan
November 2025
La TraviataÂ
by Giuseppe Verdi
Love, sacrifice and heartbreak unfold in Verdi's timeless masterpiece, reimagined in a richly evocative new staging set in 1920s New York. Following the doomed romance of Violetta Valéry and Alfredo Germont, La Traviata combines soaring melodies, powerful drama and profound emotion in one of the world's most cherished operas.
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CAST
Galatea Kneath as Violetta Valéry
Daniel Verschuer as Alfredo Germont
Tristan Entwistle as Giorgio Germont
Lisa Munckton as Flora Bervoix
Nadia Cassidy as Annina
Seungkwon Jang as Gastone de Letorières
Daniel Rae as Baron Douphol
Brett Crocker as Doctor GrenvilÂ
Chengxi Feng as servant to Violetta
Dale Schilling as servant to Flora / MessengerÂ
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Director: Barry Ryan OAM
Artistic Consultant : Dr Anke Hoeppner-Ryan          Â
Musical Director: Dr. Steven Stanke
June 2025
The Merry Wives of Windsor by Otto Nicolai
Otto Nicolai's delightful comic opera unfolds in the vibrant world of a 1980s Windsor Country Club. When the boastful Sir John Falstaff sets out to woo two clever wives, he soon finds himself the target of their ingenious schemes in a hilarious battle of wit, deception and well-earned comeuppance.
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CAST
Brett Crocker as Sir John Falstaff
Camilla Wright as Alice Ford
Elizabeth Cooper as Meg Page
Timothy Nunn as Mr Ford
Gordon Costello as Mr Page
Daniel Verschuer as Fenton
Anastasia Star Gall as Anne Page
Jordan Sarkis as SlenderÂ
Dale Schilling as Dr CajusÂ
Daniel Rae as the NeighbourÂ
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Director: Georgia Kokkoris      Â
Musical Director: Dr. Steven Stanke
Featuring
John Antoniou
Brett Crocker
Rik Dawson
Jeremy Dubé
Tristan Entwistle
James Gander
Tessa Hayward
Galatea Kneath
Georgia Kokkoris
Daniel Verschuer
Camilla Wright
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along with the ladies and gentlemen of the Rockdale Opera Company Chorus
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Director: Megan Chalmers
November 2024
Lucia di Lammermoor
by Gaetano DonizettiÂ
Donizetti's haunting dramatic opera unfolds amid the bitter feuds of 17th-century Scotland, where the fragile Lucia Ashton is torn between family duty and forbidden love. With its exquisite bel canto writing, dramatic intensity and one of opera's most famous mad scenes, Lucia di Lammermoor is a powerful tale of passion, betrayal and tragedy.
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CAST
Camilla Wright as Lucia Ashton
Tristan Entwistle as Enrico Ashton
Raphael Hudson and Daniel Verschuer as Edgardo
Seungkwon Jang as Lord Arturo Bucklaw
Brett Crocker as Raimondo Bidebent
Lisa Munckton as Alisa
Oscar Balle-Bowness as NormannoÂ
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Director: Barry Ryan OAM
Artistic Consultant : Dr Anke Hoeppner-Ryan   Â
Musical Director: Dr. Steven Stanke
June 2024
The Pirates of PenzanceÂ
by Sir W. S. Gilbert and
Sir Arthur SullivanÂ
Immerse yourself in a swashbuckling adventure filled with romance, absurdity, and unforgettable melodies. The story follows Frederic, a young pirate apprentice bound by duty and honour, as he falls in love with the spirited Mabel and finds himself caught between love, loyalty, and a most unusual twist of fate.Â
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CAST
Rik Dawson as The Pirate King
John Antoniou as Major General Stanley
Danielle Bavli as MabelÂ
James Gander as Frederic
Megan Chalmers as Ruth
Brett Crocker as the Sargeant of Police
Daniel Rae as Samuel
Ella Briggs as Edith
Emily Harris as Kate
Allegra Rotondo as Isabel
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Director: Georgia Kokkoris
Musical Director: Rod Lander
November 2023
La Bohème by Giacomo PucciniÂ
Fall in love with Puccini's timeless masterpiece, a story of young artists, passionate romance, laughter, friendship and heartbreak in the streets of Paris. Featuring some of the most beautiful music ever written, La Bohème follows the blossoming love between Rodolfo and Mimì as they dream of a brighter future despite the hardships of poverty.
CAST
Tessa Hayward as MimiÂ
Adrian Li Donni as Rodolfo
Georgia Kokkoris as MusettaÂ
Tristan Entwistle as Marcello
Michael Johnson as Schaunard
Brett Crocker as Colline
Craig Scott as Alcindoro
Gordon Costello as Benoit
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Musical Director: Dr. Steven Stanke
Director: Joseph Restubog
CAST
Camilla Wright as Adina
Daniel Verschuer as Nemorino Â
Daniel Ott as Belcore
Gordon Costello as Dulcamara
Lucy Vallely as Giannetta
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Musical Director: Omid Moheb Zadeh
Director: Stephen Yalouris
NOVEMBER 2022
Die Fledermaus Gala Concert
The Rockdale Opera Company celebrated its return to the Rockdale Town Hall in November 2022 with Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus. This gala fundraiser transformed the Act II party scene into an extended concert featuring Australian opera superstars and emerging talent. Audiences enjoyed a sparkling afternoon of festive music and infectious Strauss waltzes.
Featuring
International and Australian Opera stars Daniel Sumegi, Barry Ryan OAM and Dr Anke Hoeppner-Ryan, along with Galatea Kneath, Tumonthy Nunn, Benjamin Oxley and Daniel Ott, plus
Camilla Wright and Josephine Brereton as Adele
Georgia Kokkoris as Rosalinda
Daniel Verschuer as Eisenstein
Rik Dawson as Dr Falke
Samanta Lestavel as Prince Orlofsky
​Daniel Rae as Frank
Charlotte Crowe as Ida
Erina Kirton as Melanie
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Director: Megan Chalmers
Accompanists: Ingrid Sakurovs, Jamie-Lee Xu, Ashly Zhang
JUNE 2022
HMS Pinafore by Sir W. S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur SullivanÂ
The Rockdale Opera Company brought Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic comic opera, HMS Pinafore, to life in 2022. Audiences were treated to a delightful production filled with sharp wit, memorable tunes, and brilliant vocal performances. The high-seas adventure delivered a wonderfully entertaining experience that perfectly showcased the company's vibrant musical talent.
CAST
Galatea Kneath as Josephine
James Gander as Ralph
Gordon Costello as Sir Joseph Porter
Daniel Rae as Captain Corcoran
Megan Chalmers as Little Buttercup
​Daniel Ott as Dick Deadeye
Brett Crocker as Boatswain
Christine Premdas Rogers as Cousin HebeÂ
Stuart Shaw as Carpenter's Mate
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Musical Director: Rod Mounjed
Director:Â Elizabeth Lowrencev
May 2021
Roll over corona concert
Hosted in the intimate rehearsal space at Coronation Hall in Arncliffe, this special post-lockdown event reunited a talented ensemble of principal artists and performers. Audiences enjoyed a delightful and relaxing evening of popular arias, musical surprises, and celebratory song that welcomed live theatre back to the community.
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Featuring
Georgia Kokkoris
Camilla Wright
Kate Fowles
Megan Chalmers
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Daniel Verschuer
Jeremy Dubé
Daniel Rae
Gordon Costello
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along with our amazing Rockdale Opera Company ensemble.
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Musical Director: Harrison Collins
Director: Megan Chalmers
November 2019
The Gypsy Baron by Johann Strauss II
The Rockdale Opera Company brought Johann Strauss II’s colorful operetta, The Gypsy Baron, to the stage in November 2019. This vibrant production captivated audiences with its rich melodies, dramatic romance, and lively choreography. It delivered a spectacular blend of soaring vocals and traditional Romani rhythms that made for an unforgettable theatrical experience.
CAST
Claire Chehade-James as Saffi
Sarah Prestwidge as Arena
Carli Partridge  as Czipra
Michael Handy as  Barinkay
Rickard Roach  as Zsupan
Rik Dawson as Homonay
Daniel Verschuer as Ottokar
Gordon Costello as Carnero
Alexandra Nixon as Mirabella
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Musical Director:Â Kohki Iwasaki
Director: David Brennan
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JUNE 2019
The Mikado by by Sir W. S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur SullivanÂ
The Rockdale Opera Company made a triumphant return to Gilbert and Sullivan’s most celebrated work with a magnificent production of The Mikado in June 2019. Staged at the Rockdale Town Hall, this presentation swept audiences away with its lush orchestral score, clever satirical wit, and grand comedic performances. The delightful production beautifully showcased the company's trademark musical excellence and energetic ensemble cast.
CAST
Brett Croker as The MikadoÂ
Daniel Verschuer as Nanki-PooÂ
Andrew Brunsdon as Ko-KoÂ
Gordon Costello as Pooh-BahÂ
Vi King Lim as Pish-TushÂ
Daniel Rae as Go-ToÂ
Kirralee Hillier as Yum-YumÂ
Zoë Yalouris as Pitti-SingÂ
Imogen Bilinsky as Peep-BoÂ
Carli Partridge as Katisha
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Musical Director: Rod Mounjed
Director: Â Elizabeth Lowrencev
APRIL 2019Â
REFLECTIONS OF OPERA IN CINEMA
Held at the Rockdale Town Hall, this special event celebrated the powerful relationship between opera and the silver screen by showcasing iconic operatic masterpieces featured in famous films. Audiences were treated to soaring vocals and nostalgic cinematic music that highlighted the timeless emotional impact of the genre.
Featuring
Nik Roglich Â
Gavin Brown
Lewis BarberÂ
Daniel VerschuerÂ
Rik DawsonÂ
Corinne ParkerÂ
Megan ChalmersÂ
Julie PaikÂ
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Along with the ladies and gentlemen of the Rockdale Opera Company  Ensemble
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Director: Megan Chalmers
NOVEMBER 2018
70TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CONCERT
This landmark event paid tribute to seven decades of musical excellence by bringing together an extraordinary lineup of principal artists. Audiences were treated to a sweeping, nostalgic evening of opera's greatest hits, accompanied by grand piano and palm court orchestra, marking a proud celebration of Australia's oldest continuous opera company.
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Featuring
Compère: Silvio Rivier
Special artists: José Carbó, Barry Ryan OAM, Silvia Colloca, Lisa Cooper
Principals: Georgia Kokkoris, Jermaine Chau, Rebecca Hart, Camilla Wright, Jeremy Dubé, Lisa Munckton, Michaela Zhang, Rachael Fullston, Kate Wilmot, Samanta Lestavel, Jessica Harper, Michael Handy, John de Voy, Rik Dawson, Gerard Atkinson, Daniel Verschuer, Gordon Costello, Megan Chalmers, John Morrison
Special guests: Geoffrey Chard AM and Robert Gard
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Director: Megan Chalmers
Associate Artists: Harrison Collins and Ingrid Sakurovs
Palm court orchestra led by: Rod Mounjed