This July, Victorian Opera present their latest production, English Eccentrics, as part of the ongoing VO Emerges series. This lively 1964 chamber opera, written by Australian composer Malcolm Williamson AO CBE, showcases the rising stars of the opera world.
English Eccentrics offers a whimsical glimpse into the quirks and peculiarities of thirty-nine characters from English society.
The opera introduces a revolving door of aristocrats, tradesmen, maids, and clergy, each with their own unique eccentricities. The result is a world that is joyous, heartfelt, and delightfully zany, reminiscent of a blend between Monty Python and a high-camp Jane Austen.
Based on Edith Sitwell’s 1933 novel, English Eccentrics brings to life characters such as Lord Petersham, who has a snuff box for every day, Mrs. Dards, who creates floral bouquets from fishbones, and Miss Beswick, who believes in her own resurrection.
This cheeky comedy, directed by artistic director Stuart Maunder, is a bittersweet masterpiece that has long been overlooked in Australia.
The performance marks the third installment in Victorian Opera’s VO Emerges series, a program launched in 2022 to nurture new talent. VO Emerges provides aspiring artists with the opportunity to work on mainstage productions and collaborate with industry experts, building on the success of past productions like “Il Mago Di Oz” (2022) and “Cheremushki” (2023).
English Eccentrics will run from 4-6 July at Union Theatre, University of Melbourne. Tickets are on sale now.
