A late queer night at the opera

Experience extreme opera when social media sensation, comedian, singer, writer, and all-round fabulous entertainer, Reuben Kaye hosts Opera Up Late as part of Sydney WorldPride. 

Featuring the finest talent from Opera Australia, this special event offers a degustation of opera highlights with a little bit of comedy and cabaret thrown in. 

Directed by the illustrious Shaun Rennie, with musical direction from OA Chorus Master, Paul Fitzsimon, this fun and unique show will present opera favourites and popular musical theatre songs sung by Australian tenors Tomas Dalton and Benjamin Rasheed, mezzo-soprano Angela Hogan, soprano Cathy-Di Zhang and rising star of musical theatre, Annie Aitken. 

“Ever since I first forced my parents to watch me re-enact the final scenes of Carmen in full costume at 8 years old in the living room I have dreamed of this moment,” says Kaye. “And I plan to approach it with just as much subtlety, dignity and restraint.” 

Opera, with its excessiveness, melodrama, sumptuous sets and costumes, and sheer theatricality intersects with queer culture on so many levels. 

Rennie has a very impressive CV directing in various theatre genres including drama, comedy, musical, and of course opera, and he brings that depth to this show. 

“I am thrilled to work with Opera Australia and Sydney WorldPride to create a night that celebrates opera and other great musical anthems through a queer lens, as well as celebrating the exceptional queer talent on stage,” says Rennie.

February 18 and 23, 11pm

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point

opera.org.au