The First Fleet's arrival will be revisited in the World Premiere of the First Nations opera, The Visitors, hosted by Victorian Opera at the Arts Centre Melbourne from October 18 to 21.
Taking place on Gadigal land on the eve of colonisation, "The Visitors" is a thought-provoking opera that challenges the core principles of contemporary Australia.
Produced by a dynamic group of artists, this production contributes to the expanding collection of First Nations operas in Australia.
The World Premiere production is being helmed by Isaac Drandic, an Associate Artist at Queensland Theatre and a Noongar man.
This marks his first collaboration with Victorian Opera. Drandic boasts an extensive directorial portfolio, having worked with leading Australian theatre companies including Queensland Theatre, Belvoir Street, Melbourne Theatre Company, LaBoite, and ILBIJERRI.
Joining him in this venture is Phoebe Briggs, Victorian Opera's Head of Music, taking on the role of conductor.
Originally conceived as a play, The Visitors draws from the writings of acclaimed Muruwari playwright Jane Harrison.
Ms Harrison returns to the project, collaborating with Dharug composer Christopher Sainsbury to create a renewed operatic rendition.
This operatic adaptation is loaded with Aboriginal customs, melody, and humour as The Victorian Opera Chamber Orchestra bring Christopher Sainsbury's musical score to life.
Adding to the production's depth and authenticity, a talented ensemble of First Nations performers from across Australia has been assembled for the production.
The cast of The Visitors includes Jess Hitchcock as Joycie, Shauntai Sherree as Winsome, Lillian Fromyhr as Lois, Zoy Frangos as Gordon, Marcus Corowa as Jacob, Elias Wilson as Gary, and Eddie Muliaumaseali'i as Albert.
"In the original there was an all male cast but he (Richard Mills, Artistic Director, Victorian Opera) decided for the beauty of the music it would be wonderful to have female voices as well," Ms Harrison said.
Additionally, six of the seven cast are Indigenous with Mr Muliaumaseali'i being of Samoan descent.
The performance is sung in English but also features Indigenous language words performed by all cast members.
"In this case we are singing in English and there will be some Indigenous words throughout the text as well from the performers own countries," Ms Harrison said.
"The story of the visitors is seven Elders coming together in a meeting place to come together in Sydney cove to watch the arrival of the first fleet.
"Instead of the around the Sydney area we're referencing the countries the singers come from and acknowledging that."
Richard Mills, Artistic Director, Victorian Opera said "VO continues to embrace and enable the culture and creativity of First Nations".
"The Visitors, a new opera by Christopher Sainsbury and Jane Harrison explores the notion of European settlement and its impact on Aboriginal Australia," he said.
"Our cast features a distinguished group of First Nations performers who have chosen to embrace the complex art form of opera, emphasising its commonality with ancient ceremony and storytelling which will speak with freshness and immediacy to contemporary audiences."
Tickets to the The Visitors, running from from 18-21 and the remaining Victorian Opera Season 2023 are now on sale.
