State Opera SA’s commitment to the development of new work continues this year with the presentation of three workshops to develop new Australian operas and music theatre works including; Cloudstreet – the Opera, Innocence Lost and a multi-stage concert work based around the River Murray.

In February, State Opera SA presented a workshop of Act Two of Cloudstreet – the Opera, with music and lyrics by George Palmer (and Tim Winton), directed by Gale Edwards and  musical direction by Timothy Sexton.

Over two weeks, 15 singers participated in intense rehearsals in the Opera Studio creating a working version of the second act of the opera, which was very well received by an invited audience.

State Opera CEO & Artistic Director Timothy Sexton commented that workshops such as this are vital to ensure the proper and thorough development of new works.

“The aim of the workshop process is to test the structure of the Act, in anticipation of it being taken through to its final incarnation.”

“George Palmer’s writing is highly melodic and quintessentially theatrical. We’re planning on presenting the world premiere of the complete opera in late 2015 or early 2016 in what promises to be a very significant event on the national opera calendar,” he says.

In June, State Opera SA in partnership with SINGular Productions will also hold a one week workshop on the development of Innocence Lost – a new Australian opera adapted from Stephen Orr’s book Time’s Long Ruin – which in turn was inspired by the events surrounding the disappearance of the Beaumont children in Adelaide in 1966. Innocence Lost looks at the issue of child abduction in general and the effect such events have had in shaping our modern society. Libretto and concept is by Adam Goodburn with music by Anne Cawrse. The project was recently awarded Arts SA’s Major Commissions grant for 2014 with the aim of presenting the complete opera after a suitable development period.

Finally, in November 2014, State Opera will workshop and present two scenes from a new concert/theatre work based on South Australian aboriginal mythology – with the working title Ngurunderi – Opera on the Lake. With music and text by Tim Fatchen, this work draws upon the mythology surrounding the mouth of the River Murray and the lower lakes and Coorong region.

This work is being developed in collaboration with the Ngurrundjeri people of the lower Murray River and will be presented in sections over the next four to five years, with the eventual aim of a complete performance on the River Murray in 2018/2019. This project involves both indigenous and non-indigenous performers and features original music for orchestra, chorus and soloists.