Artistic Director's Note
Nicholas Cannon
There is something wonderful about revisiting a show from the early days of your career. Nothing shows growth like reflection. Twelve years ago, I created Mopoke Theatre Productions and our inaugural production was the Old Maid and the Thief, with Penny at the musical helm. Remounting this production with Penny once more has been a joy. Breathing fresh life into this funny, poignant show has been a reminder of how much support our opera community has shown Mopoke over the years and how bright the future looks with such a community gathered around us.
Celebrating over a decade of creating, opportunities and creative expression through Mopoke Theatre Productions has been rewarding and humbling. Thank you all for your continued support.
A special thanks to Macintyre Howie-Reeves and Jessica Mills for making this iteration of the show come to life, all while of course starring, directing, promoting, booking and a host of other duties required to put on a show as a small independent company. The addition of the Telephone to the evening is the icing on the cake. Thank you also to you, our community, our audience. Without you, where would we be? You are the reason and we thank you.
THE TELEPHONE - SYNOPSIS
Ben visits his girlfriend Lucy with a very specific purpose: he wants to propose marriage before leaving on a long trip. However, every time he tries to ask the question, Lucy is interrupted—by her ever-ringing telephone.
As Ben’s frustration grows, Lucy cheerfully drifts from one phone call to another, discussing trivial gossip and chatting endlessly with various friends. Despite multiple attempts, Ben never gets a chance to speak more than a few words.
Finally resigned, Ben comes up with a clever solution: he leaves the apartment and calls Lucy on the telephone. Ironically, this works. Lucy is thrilled to receive the proposal over the phone and enthusiastically says yes.
The opera ends with a lighthearted duet celebrating love and the modern marvel of the telephone.
Please note there will be a 20 minute interval following The Telephone.
THE TELEPHONE - CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST
DIRECTOR - Macintyre Howie-Reeves
Macintyre Howie-Reeves is a performer and director with a BMus (Classical Voice) and a BA (English) from The University of Adelaide.
Macintyre directed Tosca for Co-Opera and co-directed Assassins for Hills Music Company. For State Opera South Australia, he directed Lovers & Villains, assistant directed, and revival directed The Frog Prince, and assistant directed The Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore, and Trial by Jury.
His stage credits include Lieutenant Barri in Passion, The Major General in The Pirates of Penzance, The Father in Hansel and Gretel, The Page in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, Pish-Tush in The Mikado, Publio in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito, and Betto in Gianni Schicchi for Co-Opera, The Apparition in Verdi’s Macbeth for State Opera South Australia, and U/S Anton in Saariaho’s Innocence for The Adelaide Festival.
Macintyre is also a regular member of the State Opera of South Australia chorus and The Adelaide Festival chorus.
_edi.jpg)
MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Sachiko Hidaka
Originally from Japan, Sachiko Hidaka is an Adelaide-based accompanist who has a passion for working with singers. In Adelaide, she completed her LMusA (Piano) under the guidance of Audrey White OAM.
Sachiko has been a repetiteur for several productions of Co-Opera, including “Acis and Galatea”, “Die Fledermaus” (2012), “Eugene Onegin” (2016), “La Bohéme” (2017) and “The Barber of Seville” (2018). She was also the repetiteur and orchestral pianist for Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors” in 2014 (Emma Knights Productions and Karen Lettice Productions).
As a pianist, Sachiko has performed in Emma Knights Productions “The Pirates of Penzance” (Adelaide Fringe Festival) and Various People Inc’s “Household Names” (Port Fairy Spring Music Festival 2019 and Adelaide Fringe Festival 2021).
Sachiko has been the accompanist for Classical Voice Performance Class at the Elder Conservatorium of Music since 2020.
SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER - James Nicholson
James Nicholson is a versatile designer and performer with a strong background in theatre, opera, and event design. He graduated from the Adelaide College of the Arts in 2012 and has since worked on a range of creative projects, including installations for the FEAST Festival. His work spans costume and set design for plays, musicals, and operas, with notable credits such as Assassins (Stirling Theatre Company) and Tosca (Co-Opera SA).
James is known for his practical, story-driven approach and his collaborative style. Since 2014, he has also performed as a chorus member with State Opera of South Australia in productions including Carmen, Otello, and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
His experience on both sides of the stage gives him a unique insight into production needs. James brings creativity, precision, and a deep respect for storytelling to all his work in costume, set, and event design.
LIGHTING DESIGNER AND HEAD TECHNICIAN - Tom Hannagan
State Opera South Australia Venue Technician
LUCY - Jessica Mills
Jessica Mills holds a Bachelor of Musical Theatre from the Queensland Conservatorium. She was recently seen at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre as Isobel/Dance Captain in Pirates of Penzance. In 2024, she also starred in State Opera South Australia’s Opera In The Pub series, and was the only Australian performer selected for the Semi-Finals of the prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition in New York.
Some credits include: First Bridesmaid, Cover Barbarina - The Marriage of Figaro (SOSA), Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Victorian Opera/Sydney Opera House), Isobel - Pirates of Penzance (SOSA), Swing/Angela alternate - Love Burns (SOSA), Nella – Gianni Schicchi (CoOpera), TweedleDee/Choreographer – Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland (ACOCO.), U/S Mary Maguire - The Beautiful Game (Manilla Street Productions).
Jessica is a past Semi-Finalist of the Rob Guest Endowment Award and a two-time recipient of the Friends of State Opera South Australia’s Emerging Artist’s Grant. Jessica thanks her family and Active Artists Management for their support.
BEN - Nicholas Cannon
A versatile international director, singer, actor and teacher. Training: Lecoq Technique in Barcelona and Paris and Music Theatre Degree from WAAPA.
Artistic Director of ‘Mopoke Theatre Productions’ directing Suor Angelica, Tosca, Dido and Aeneas and The Old Maid and the Thief and created a one man staged performance of Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel and Bush Poetry.
Director: The Marriage of Figaro, Love Burns, Christina’s World for SOSA. A Little Night Music for Watch This Company. Acis and Galatea, Don Giovanni, La Clemenza di Tito, Cosi Fan Tutte, for Co-Opera touring regional Australia. L’Heure Espagnole – Lyric Opera of Melbourne and The Gondoliers – Pacific Opera, Sydney.
Performer: The Judge (Trial By Jury), Samuel (Pirates of Penzance), Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd), Ambrogio (The Barber of Seville), Jigger Craigin (Carousel), Johnny Dowd (Summer of the 17th Doll), Pish Tush (The Mikado), Lieutenant (Madeline Lee), Quick Lamb (Cloudstreet) and Papageno (The Magic Flute).
THE OLD MAID AND THE THIEF - SYNOPSIS
One afternoon, Laetitia brings a stranger—Bob—into the home of her employer, the repressed and lonely Miss Todd. Bob, a charming vagabond, says he’s just passing through. Laetitia, clearly attracted to him, convinces Miss Todd to let him stay.
Soon, local gossip Miss Pinkerton visits and shares alarming news: an escaped criminal is loose in the area, and he fits Bob’s description. Despite her suspicions, Miss Todd is already enamoured with Bob and decides to overlook the warning.
As time passes, Bob continues to lounge around, enjoying Miss Todd's hospitality. To keep him content, Miss Todd and Laetitia begin stealing from neighbours and even from the town liquor store—ironically becoming the true "thieves" themselves.
Eventually, Miss Todd confronts Bob about his identity, but he admits nothing. Frustrated and panicked, she tells him to leave. In a final twist, Laetitia runs away with Bob, leaving Miss Todd alone to face the consequences of their crimes.
The Old Maid and the Thief was originally written for radio—one of the first operas to be composed specifically for the medium.
THE OLD MAID AND THE THIEF - CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST
DIRECTOR - Nicholas Cannon
A versatile international director, singer, actor and teacher. Training: Lecoq Technique in Barcelona and Paris and Music Theatre Degree from WAAPA.
Artistic Director of ‘Mopoke Theatre Productions’ directing Suor Angelica, Tosca, Dido and Aeneas and The Old Maid and the Thief and created a one man staged performance of Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel and Bush Poetry.
Director: The Marriage of Figaro, Love Burns, Christina’s World for SOSA. A Little Night Music for Watch This Company. Acis and Galatea, Don Giovanni, La Clemenza di Tito, Cosi Fan Tutte, for Co-Opera touring regional Australia. L’Heure Espagnole – Lyric Opera of Melbourne and The Gondoliers – Pacific Opera, Sydney.
Performer: The Judge (Trial By Jury), Samuel (Pirates of Penzance), Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd), Ambrogio (The Barber of Seville), Jigger Craigin (Carousel), Johnny Dowd (Summer of the 17th Doll), Pish Tush (The Mikado), Lieutenant (Madeline Lee), Quick Lamb (Cloudstreet) and Papageno (The Magic Flute).
MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Penelope Cashman
Collaborative pianist Penelope Cashman has performed with singers at venues including Haus der Musik (Vienna), Ukaria Cultural Centre, and the Holywell Music Room (Oxford). Her performances have been compared to “a Turner painting… iridescent” (GlamAdelaide). During 2024 she gave four world premiere performances of vocal chamber works – two at the Adelaide Town Hall for Chamber Music Adelaide’s “Perspectives”. 2025 marks the inaugural season of Magpie Artsong, a concert series co-directed with tenor Kyle Stegall.
Opera work has taken Penelope to the Pieve di San Leolino (Italy), Theater Akzent (Vienna), and the Festival Theatre (Adelaide). Credits include serving as pianist for Bel Canto in Tuscany Opera School (Italy), repetiteur for State Opera South Australia, and music director for Opera Queensland’s “Moving Opera” and for Mopoke Theatre Productions.
Also a vocal coach, Penelope has presented guest masterclasses at The University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music (NZ), the Elder Conservatorium, and for Co-Opera. She teaches German and Italian lyric diction at the Elder Conservatorium.
COSTUME DESIGNER - James Nicholson
James Nicholson is a versatile designer and performer with a strong background in theatre, opera, and event design. He graduated from the Adelaide College of the Arts in 2012 and has since worked on a range of creative projects, including installations for the FEAST Festival. His work spans costume and set design for plays, musicals, and operas, with notable credits such as Assassins (Stirling Theatre Company) and Tosca (Co-Opera SA).
James is known for his practical, story-driven approach and his collaborative style. Since 2014, he has also performed as a chorus member with State Opera of South Australia in productions including Carmen, Otello, and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
His experience on both sides of the stage gives him a unique insight into production needs. James brings creativity, precision, and a deep respect for storytelling to all his work in costume, set, and event design.
LIGHTING DESIGNER AND HEAD MECHANIST - Tom Hannagan
State Opera South Australia Venue Technician.
MISS TODD - Catriona Barr
Catriona Barr trained in Adelaide before moving to London to live and work for 12 years. She has worked in France, Italy, Northern Ireland, Macau and Scotland for companies including English National Opera, Garsington, Opera Holland Park, the Festival in Aix-en-Provence and
Scottish Opera where she performed Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier among other roles.
Roles have included Dorabella in Così fan tutte,
Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Orestes in La Belle Helene and Maddalena in Rigoletto. For the State Opera of South Australia she has sung
Stéphano in Roméo et Juliette, Suzuki, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Venus in Orpheus and the Underworld, Emilia in Otello, Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana and the Dog and Mrs Pasek in The Cunning Little Vixen. Since
her return to Australia in 2010 performances have included Mrs Ford in Vaughan Williams Sir John in Love in Hobart, covering Dorabella for
Opera Australia and the title role in Carmen for Opera Queensland.
LAETITIA - Jessica Mills
Jessica Mills holds a Bachelor of Musical Theatre from the Queensland Conservatorium. She was recently seen at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre as Isobel/Dance Captain in Pirates of Penzance. In 2024, she also starred in State Opera South Australia’s Opera In The Pub series, and was the only Australian performer selected for the Semi-Finals of the prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition in New York.
Some credits include: First Bridesmaid, Cover Barbarina - The Marriage of Figaro (SOSA), Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Victorian Opera/Sydney Opera House), Isobel - Pirates of Penzance (SOSA), Swing/Angela alternate - Love Burns (SOSA), Nella – Gianni Schicchi (CoOpera), TweedleDee/Choreographer – Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland (ACOCO.), U/S Mary Maguire - The Beautiful Game (Manilla Street Productions).
Jessica is a past Semi-Finalist of the Rob Guest Endowment Award and a two-time recipient of the Friends of State Opera South Australia’s Emerging Artist’s Grant. Jessica thanks her family and Active Artists Management for their support.
BOB - Macintyre Howie-Reeves
Macintyre Howie-Reeves is a performer and director with a BMus (Classical Voice) and a BA (English) from The University of Adelaide.
Macintyre directed Tosca for Co-Opera and co-directed Assassins for Hills Music Company. For State Opera South Australia, he directed Lovers & Villains, assistant directed, and revival directed The Frog Prince, and assistant directed The Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore, and Trial by Jury.
His stage credits include Lieutenant Barri in Passion, The Major General in The Pirates of Penzance, The Father in Hansel and Gretel, The Page in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, Pish-Tush in The Mikado, Publio in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito, and Betto in Gianni Schicchi for Co-Opera, The Apparition in Verdi’s Macbeth for State Opera South Australia, and U/S Anton in Saariaho’s Innocence for The Adelaide Festival.
Macintyre is also a regular member of the State Opera of South Australia chorus and The Adelaide Festival chorus.
MISS PINKERTON - Rachel McCall
Rachel McCall, a graduate of the Elder Conservatorium, is a musical theatre, opera, cabaret and early music performer.
A regular chorus member with the State Opera of South Australia (SOSA), she has also performed as a soloist with SOSA, Co-Opera, Adelaide Baroque, Popjam Productions, Soundbowl Productions, Adelaide Vocal Project and the Adelaide Art Orchestra. Most recently, Rachel played Kate in SOSA’s ‘The Pirates of Penzance’; the mezzo roles in the Australian tour of ‘Love Burns’; ‘Bright Lights, Big Dreams’; and Rose/Mercy in ‘Voss’. Rachel toured Australia in 2013 and 2015 in ‘Mother, Wife and the Complicated Life’ by Amity Dry (arr. Mark Ferguson), and in 2014 performed the show at the United Nations and Studio 54 in New York.
Other key projects include ‘Saul’ directed by Barrie Kosk and ‘Ainadamar’ directed by Graeme Murphy for the Adelaide Festival; and ‘Maria de Buenos Aires’ with SOSA/Leigh Warren Dancers for the Brisbane Festival.
Special thanks
ActNow Theatre - https://www.actnowtheatre.org.au/
Alex Craddock - Production Photography
Allon Reeves and Claire Howie
Christian Evans - Rehearsal Photography
Fiona McArdle
The Friends of State Opera South Australia - join The Friends here https://stateopera.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Friends-Membership-Application.pdf
The Gilbert and Sullivan Society - https://www.gandssa.com.au/
Graham Cochran
Peter and Margaret Cannon
State Opera South Australia - book to see The Magic Flute here https://stateopera.com.au/productions/themagicflute/
Tracey Richardson
