State Opera South Australia Presents The Global Premiere Of Gounod’s Roméo Et Juliette Created In Adelaide

State Opera South Australia will unveil the global premiere of a reimagined production of Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, featuring stunning music and visionary staging at Her Majesty’s Theatre later this month.

State Opera Artistic Director and Conductor Dane Lam :

This will be one of Adelaide’s most significant cultural moments of the year, not only for South Australia but for the country.

To create this production entirely here in South Australia, with extraordinary local artistry and world-class international talent, is a thrilling statement about what Adelaide can achieve. It’s been 25 years since this opera has been staged in South Australia, and I’m proud to be part of a fresh introduction to this magnificent art form for audiences of all ages.

Award-winning London-based director Rodula Gaitanou and Olivier Award–nominated designer takis, both making their South Australian debuts, will craft a poetic, dream-like world that evokes everyone’s memory of first love—its joy and its heartbreak—through artistic contrasts woven throughout the performance.

Rodula :

The staging has been designed to evoke the memory of when you first experienced the bittersweet taste of first love.

With moments of starry-sky wonder, and a modern yet poetic aesthetic, we invite audiences into a suspended space where young love feels fearless and limitless. For anyone experiencing this story for the first time, it should feel as fresh and overwhelming as first love itself.

The opera tells the story of Verona’s star-crossed lovers who defy their warring families and create their own rules, only to face a tragic end that changes the world around them. Lam said that Gounod’s music amplifies their journey—charting their joy, courage and ultimate heartbreak in some of opera’s most moving duets.

 

He Said:

Gounod’s sweeping score, four ecstatic love duets and breathtaking drama will transport audiences back to that first, unforgettable rush of love.

Internationally acclaimed Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg makes her role debut as Juliette, while American-born, Adelaidebased tenor Kyle Stegall sings Roméo for the first time. They headline a stellar cast including London-based Australian baritone Morgan Pearse as Mercutio and South Australian soprano Charlotte Kelso as Stephano, supported by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and State Opera Chorus.

Bringing Shakespeare’s most famous lovers to life with a sweeping French score, the production is being created and produced in Adelaide before its planned tour to WA next year and then to Ireland in 2028.

An international co-production with West Australian Opera and Irish National Opera, Roméo et Juliette will showcase monumental, timeless sets and intricate costumes, reinforcing Adelaide’s reputation as a world-class opera-making hub before the production is shared internationally under State Opera’s Opera Without Borders vision.

South Australia’s Minister for Arts Andrea Michaels MP :

Roméo et Juliette builds on the recent triumph of The Magic Flute to reinforce Adelaide’s reputation as a world-class opera-making centre.

Fresh from the resounding success of The Magic Flute, this new premiere again demonstrates Adelaide’s ability to originate opera of extraordinary scale and vision—confirming South Australia’s strength, confidence and creativity on the global cultural stage.

State Opera South Australia is proudly supported by the Government of South Australia through Create SA and the Australian Government through Creative Australia, and its principal Corporate Partners.

Roméo et Juliette plays for four performances only at Her Majesty’s Theatre from 23 October to 1 November 2025. Tickets are on sale now—visit www.stateopera.com.au for bookings and information.

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Season Details

Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre
Date: 23 Oct – 01 Nov 2025

For more information click HERE