Opera / BalletVideo DesignWhat's OnWorld Premiere
About

The Drover’s Wife reimagines Leah Purcell’s acclaimed story as a sweeping new opera of survival, resilience and truth. Set against the beauty and brutality of the Australian High Country, this powerful production blends grand operatic scale with contemporary Aboriginal storytelling to tell Molly Johnson’s unforgettable fight for survival.

PRODUCER

Opera Australia / QPAC

Seasons

Glasshouse Theatre, QPAC — Brisbane
13 — 22 May 2026

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House — Sydney
17 — 15 Aug 2026

Creative Team

CONDUCTOR — Tahu Matheson
COMPOSER — George Palmer AM
LIBRETTO BY — Leah Purcell with George Palmer AM
DIRECTOR — Leah Purcell AM
CHOREOGRAPHER — Yolande Brown
SET DESIGNER — Isabel Hudson
COSTUME DESIGNER — Tess Schofield
LIGHTING DESIGNER — Karen Norris
SOUND DESIGNER — Michael Waters
VIDEO DESIGNER — Craig Wilkinson
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR — Imara Savage
PRODUCER — Bain Stewart for Oombarra Productions

CAST — Nina Korbe, Marcus Corowa, Jordan Sarkis, Shauntai Abdul-Rahman, Barry Ryan, Shane Lowrencev, Elias Wilson, Simon Meadows, Zoy Frangos, John Longmuir

PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY — David Kelly

PRODUCTION IMAGES