Opera. In a toilet. Enough said.
If you still need convincing, read on.
For those of the general population unlucky enough never to have experienced the sacred and life-changing conversations that happen in women’s bathrooms, this is a rare opportunity for you.
Chamber Pot Opera tells the stories of three strangers whose paths cross fleetingly in a public lavatory, but who are all undoubtedly changed forever by the encounter. Some of opera’s most popular songs from Puccini, Mozart and Bizet are woven together to tell these women’s stories.
It’s a genius concept, expertly executed by all involved.
Sally Alrich-Smythe, Britt Lewis and Jessica Westcott are heavenly to listen to, invoking a roller-coaster of genuine emotion and perfectly capturing the essence of sisterhood. It’s an empowering, heart-warming show of female camaraderie – a creative, moving take on the ‘empowered women empower women’ slogan.
If you do get to see this heartfelt gem, you should feel honoured – you’ve been offered a rare glimpse into one of the sacred secrets of sisterhood. Sightlines aren’t fantastic from further back, so get there early for a seat up front – there’s no allocated seating.
Playing in the Sydney Opera House Playhouse Bathrooms until 28 April.
Alana Kaye – Theatre Now
Photo Credit: Phil Erbacher
Chamber Pot Opera
Created by Keiren Brandt-Sawdy, Thomas De Angelis and Clemence Williams
11 – 28 April 2019
Sun – Sat 7pm and 8:30pm
Venue: The Playhouse Ladies Bathroom, Sydney Opera House
Theatre Company: bontom Productions and Sydney Opera House
Duration: 45 minutes (no interval)
Following seasons in Adelaide, Edinburgh and St Petersburg, Russia, CHAMBER POT OPERA returns to Sydney to play in Australia’s foremost Opera venue, the Sydney Opera House for its final season, commencing 11 April 2019.
CHAMBER POT OPERA tells the story of three women who meet for the first time in a public
bathroom. One is in an abusive relationship, another is terrified that she has come on too strong on a date, and the third has been promoted through the glass ceiling to land her dream job. Together they sing of shared histories, traumas and fantasies using a catalogue of popular music from the operas of Puccini, Mozart and Bizet.
A uniquely intimate production, CHAMBER POT OPERA will be performed for only 42 audience members at a time in the elegant Playhouse Ladies Bathroom at the Sydney Opera House. The three performers will utilise the entirety of the splendid and intimate space from the bathroom sinks and decorative mirrors to the hand dryers and toilet stalls to weave together a story in a setting where women can safely express themselves.
Originally performed in November 2016, this new season of CHAMBER POT OPERA Is due in no small part to the Sydney Opera House’s commitment to creating new operas for contemporary audiences as well as its commitment to fostering new, young, and exciting artistic talent of Music Created by director Clemence Williams (Banging Denmark), musical director Keiren Brandt-Sawdy (Mansfield Park) and dramaturg Thomas De Angelis (Unfinished Works) and with a cast including Sally Alrich-Smythe (The Phantom of the Opera), Britt Lewis (Rent)
CHAMBER POT OPERA features a talented team of singers and creatives from NIDA and the Sydney Conservatorium and Jessica Westcott (La Boheme), this production brings together Australia’s next generation of opera performers and creators.
Director and co-creator Clemence Williams says that this season “is the culmination of three years of touring the world and bringing our message of the timelessness and beauty of opera to the masses, one bathroom at a time!” The idea for the show came from Williams’ own experience being a performer confined to the ‘bitches, witches and breeches’ roles in opera.
Dramaturg and co-creator Thomas De Angelis says, “It seemed like the right time to bring Chamber Pot Opera home, and particularly to stage it in Australia’s most recognisable cultural institution, the Sydney Opera House. We’ve made some changes to the show and added some new material – and crucially, we’ve tried to keep the ticket prices as low as possible to maximise the accessibility of the show.”
CHAMBER POT OPERA is the only opera written and designed specifically for publicly accessible women’s bathrooms. It’s sure to delight opera novices and aficionados alike.
“Chamber Pot Opera makes opera accessible, celebrates the power women can have when they choose to support each other, and forces audiences to rethink their opinions of performance spaces.” – Broadway World
“Don’t be surprised to see these singers on great operatic stages in the future. In the meantime, go along and see this great little show — it’s a gem.” – Adelaide Advertiser
“For those who love Opera you must see this, for those who are novices, you also must see this.” – Stage Whispers
CHAMBER POT OPERA
Presented by bontom Productions and Sydney Opera House
Created by Keiren Brandt-Sawdy, Thomas De Angelis and Clemence Williams Directed by Clemence Williams
Musical Direction by Keiren Brandt-Sawdy
Dramaturgy by Thomas De Angelis
With Sally Alrich-Smythe, Britt Lewis and Jessica Westcott
Ticket Prices
$45.00 – $55.00
