Alright, Sydney, get ready to have your socks blown off (and possibly your popcorn knocked from your hands) because Opera Australia, in collaboration with Opera Queensland, is bringing the jaw-dropping, heart-wrenching love story Dido & Aeneas to the Joan Sutherland Theatre this March.
And this isn’t your average opera—oh no, this masterpiece is getting the royal treatment with a generous dose of mind-boggling acrobatics courtesy of the renowned Circa acrobatic troupe. Yep, we’re talking flips, tumbles, and music that will make your hair stand on end.
Directed by Circa’s Artistic Director, Yaron Lifschitz, who already wowed us with his sellout production Orpheus & Eurydice, this Dido & Aeneas promises to be a feast for your eyes and ears. If you thought opera was just people standing around singing in fancy costumes, think again. Circa’s high-energy physicality will collide head-on with the timeless beauty of Baroque composer Henry Purcell’s music, which, by the way, just so happens to have basically invented opera as we know it. No big deal, right?
Conductors Erin Helyard (Pinchgut Opera) and British maestro Chad Kelly will share the baton, leading the acclaimed OA Orchestra through Purcell’s hauntingly beautiful score, including the achingly famous aria, When I am laid in earth. Seriously, bring tissues for that one.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Aussie stars Anna Dowsley and Nicholas Jones, fresh off dazzling audiences in Europe, are returning home to embody the tragic lovebirds Dido and Aeneas. Supporting them is an all-Australian cast featuring OA regulars Jane Ede, Sian Sharp, Kanen Breen, and the powerhouse OA Chorus.
Oh, did we mention the set? Lifschitz’s sleek and shadowy design paired with Libby McDonnell’s intense, sharp costumes promise to crank up the drama to epic levels. Toss in acrobatics that laugh in the face of gravity, and you’re in for one unforgettable night at the opera.
Mark your calendars, folks—Dido & Aeneas runs from March 13 to 29, 2025, at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. If you miss this, you’ll only have yourself to blame. Trust us, this is opera like you’ve never seen it before.
13-29 March 2025 | Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Book now: https://opera.org.au/productions/dido-aeneas-sydney/