Theodora

A high-octane reframing of this classic opera through a feminist lens, Theodora, a religious fundamentalist, plots for the resistance against the Roman occupation. But when her secret plan to destroy the Roman embassy is discovered, she learns the true brutality of her oppressors.

Directed by internationally acclaimed theatre and opera director, Katie Mitchell, with cast including soprano Julia Bullock, Grammy Award winning mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato, countertenor Jakub Józef Orlinski, tenor Ed Lyon and baritone Gyula Orendt.

Intimacy Director

Ita O’Brien for Intimacy On Set

“For Julia Bullock, a soprano who plays the titular role, it’s a symbolic and vital moment. ‘I’ve been in so many rehearsal spaces where usually it’s the performers who are making complaints about scenes, but to have that preemptively addressed was such a relief,’ she said. One of the first things Ita talked about was how only those directly involved in an intimate scene should be in the room for its staging. But I remember during my first ever intimate performance, my partner and I were being witnessed by 50 people, and the conductor was asking, ‘Shouldn’t Julia be simulating more noises on stage?’”

The Guardian, 29 Jan 2022

About the production