PAST PRODUCTIONS
'The Telephone' by Carlo Menotti
July 2025, State Opera South Australia Studios
​“Mills has some difficult telephone conversations that she handles with ease and Cannon is the perfect, slightly geeky, frustrated boyfriend. Experienced performers, they add realism and comedy to the opera and have a wonderful chemistry together. Mopoke’s production gets us ‘up close and personal’ with two intimate operas produced with style and talent, and well worth the trip to the State Opera South Australia’s studios!” Stage Whispers: Barry Hill
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This is a great production, sung in English, and a good choice for first-time opera attendees. It’s exciting to watch a show that is locally produced, featuring local talent. A thoroughly enjoyable experience." What's The Show: Jane Savage
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Cast: Jessica Mills, Nicholas Cannon
Director: Macintyre Howie-Reeves
Music Director: Sachiko Hidaka
'The Old Maid and the Thief' by Carlo Menotti
July 2025, State Opera South Australia Studios
“Cannon wisely brings out the comedic aspects of the opera and keeps the pace moving at a rapid rate. This is a slick production, well-rehearsed and full of nuance. Mopoke’s production gets us ‘up close and personal’ with two intimate operas produced with style and talent, and well worth the trip to the State Opera South Australia’s studios!” Stage Whispers: Barry Hill
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"The Old Lady and the Thief capitalised on the energy of the first half and from the moment Musical Director Penelope Cashman put her fingers to the keys, the sprightly and lively energy of Menotti’s cheeky piece of 20th century opera sparkled into life." Glam Adelaide: Adrian Barnes​
Cast: Catriona Barr, Jessica Mills, Macintyre Howie-Reeves, Rachel McCall
Director: Nicholas Cannon
Music Director: Penelope Cashman
'Suor Angelica' by Giacomo Puccini
July 2022, Clayton Wesley Uniting Church
​“Along with the fine work of the cast, and Cannon's decisive direction, they (Cashman and Hidaka) add their talents to complete the package, creating an intimate and sensitive performance, that was satisfying and greatly appreciated by the audience that gave extended applause.” Broadway World: Barry Lenny
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Cast: Fiona McArdle, Meran Bow, Barbara Heidrich, Gianna Guttilla, Darcie Yelland, Katelyn Crawford, Amelia Price, Emma Kavanagh, Riana Chakravarti with Karina Bailey
Director: Nicholas Cannon
Music Director: Penelope Cashman
Assistant Music Director: Sachiko Hidaka
Songs of Travel and Bush Poetry
March 2021, Clayton Wesley Uniting Church
“This beautifully crafted blend of English songs and Australian bush poetry, Songs of Travel and Bush Poetry, from Nicholas Cannon and Mopoke Theatre Productions, is one of the finest local productions I've shared in, in many years.” Broadway World: Ewart Shaw
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Escape in to a fully staged performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams' beloved song cycle 'Songs of Travel' interspersed with classic Australian bush poetry.​
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“Cannon’s operatic skills serve him well: he acts out the storylines of the songs and poems with flourish and style, and his delivery of The Geebung Polo Club leaves the audience laughing and wanting more.” The Barefoot Review: Kym Clayton
Cast: Nicholas Cannon
Piano: Andrew Georg
Director: Bronwyn Palmer
'Tosca' by Giacomo Puccini
February 2019, Clayton Wesley Uniting Church
Puccini’s stunning masterpiece, “Tosca” is coming to the Adelaide Fringe on Feb. 19, 21 & 23 at Clayton Wesley Church. This Mopoke Theatre production stars Joanna McWaters, Andrew Turner, Joshua Rowe, Rod Kirk & Daniel Goodburn. Directed by Nicholas Cannon, with piano accompaniment by Andrew Georg this intimate production will bring you all the love, deceit & murder you could wish for wrapped up in some of the most beautiful music ever written.
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“This production approached and occasionally reached what Coleridge called ‘the sublime’.Congratulations to Mopoke Theatre Productions for this truly engaging and rewarding production of Puccini’s Tosca.” Stage Whispers: Tony Knight
Cast: Joanna McWaters, Andrew Turner, Joshua Rowe, Rod Kirk, Daniel Goodburn
Director: Nicholas Cannon
Music Director: Andrew Georg
'Dido and Aeneas' by Henry Purcell
October 2016, The Queen's Theatre
Ensemble Galante join forces with Mopoke Theatre Productions to present a fully-staged production of Henry Purcell’s iconic Dido & Aeneas in Adelaide’s historic The Queen’s Theatre.
This is a unique, gritty and contemporary production directed by Nicholas Cannon with instrumentation sensitive to the English Baroque period. With Adelaide soprano Bethany Hill in the title role and a cast including some of Australia’s best baroque opera singers and instrumentalists, for three performances only this is an event not to be missed.
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Cast: Bethany Hill, David Hidden, Karen Fitz-Gibbon, and Elizabeth Campbell
Director: Nicholas Cannon
Music: Ensemble Gallante
'The Old Maid and the Thief' by Carlo Menotti
March 2013, Adelaide Showgrounds
“Absolutely delightful, tuneful work that set out for the world to hear the promise that Menotti would fulfill for generations to come.” FANFARE: Henry Fogel
What lengths will an older woman and her young house maid go to for their love of a handsome wanderer and what will drive an honest man to become a thief?
This “Desperate Housewives of the 1930s” is a delightfully funny yet poignant one act opera. Menotti's wonderful melodies and cheeky humour skilfully explore themes of love, morality, companionship, freedom and social status.
Co-Opera continuing its support for new artists, is this time collaborating with an emerging theatre company, Mopoke Theatre Productions for its premier performance.
This intimate, innovative production unites an exceptional, internationally experienced cast of Adelaide singers, will delight Co-Opera audiences and will be an ideal entrée into opera for those looking for a new Fringe experience.
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“A new extremely talented company and an outstanding established company present a delightful, entertaining musical gem which exemplifies what the Fringe is all about ” Frank Ford AM, Fringe Honorary Life Member
Cast: Guila Tiver, Sara Lambert, Jeremy Tatchell, Sharon Turley
Director: Nicholas Cannon
Music Director: Penelope Cashman