Who is Laura Hansford?
Geographically, I am from Meanjin, Brisbane. Professionally, I direct, produce, and sometimes (when I feel I have something to say) write opera. Biologically, I am the daughter of two diabolically supportive parents and sister to three brothers who are tolerable in the way of a summer storm: chaotic, inconvenient, but strangely endearing all at once.
Culturally, I’m an unapologetic fangirl of the grand world of opera and the magic of storytelling through music. And currently I have the privilege of remounting John Copley’s legendary production of Lucia di Lammermoor for State Opera South Australia.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I would get more easily lost. Not just lost in the, “where did I leave my keys” sort of way, but the deep, satisfying lostness of not relying on answers being always at my fingertips. I wouldn’t be distracted by pings and buzzes and notifications.
I’d ignore the incessant buzz for immediate correctness, wave Google a polite farewell, and invite imagination to stay for a cuppa tea. I’d embrace patience as a form of power and I’d look up more; not just at what is in front of me, but at what’s on the horizon.
Who inspires you and why?
Artists inspire me. People who create relentlessly and exhaustively. Artists who aren’t afraid to have gaps in their knowledge but who are filled with curiosity. People who have high hopes, but no expectations. People who have strong opinions but who hold onto them loosely.
My world is better for having artists inside it, singers, designers, composers, conductors, writers, dancers, crocheters, timpanists, jugglers, whittlers. I am inspired by anyone who looks at the world and says ‘Yes, and…’
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I would make everyone admit that celery is gross and that anyone pretending otherwise is proof of a long-con created by big celery to lure people into its fibrous clutches. But beyond that my mission would be to dismantle the myth that art is an innate skill, a talent bestowed only on a select few.
I’d intercede at the moment when children perceive themselves as ‘having’ or ‘not having’ talent. When they decide they ‘can’t draw’ or ‘can’t sing’ – I’d nurture creativity for creativity’s sake.
Imagine a world where everyone feels free to make art, to make music, not because they’re ‘good’ at it, but because it’s how they connect, how they express, how they find their place in community. That’s where I’d start, right after dealing with the celery issue.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Easily, Japan. There’s an irresistible collision between the old-world of serene tea houses, steaming onsens, a stunning natural beauty and the neon-drenched, hyper-saturated pop culture that feels like stepping into my favourite manga. It’s a place where tradition and innovation coexist effortlessly and there are always new adventures to be had there.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
It all depends on both the friends and the town. My work in the Arts has kept me as a bit of a nomad, hopping from city to city, show to show, leaving me with found family and favourite haunts scattered across the map.
When I’m in Melbourne, it’s whiskey on a rooftop bar. In Sydney, we’ll hike the cliffs at Coogee and get Messina. In Brisbane, it’s a strong coffee and a stroll along the banks of the brown snake. Time with friends needs three essential ingredients: bodies moving, minds stimulated, and bellies delightfully full.
What are you currently reading?
I usually have two books on the go at once: one to nourish the mind and one to nourish the soul. At the moment my mind book is Whiskey Master Class by Lewis Bryson, which is a brilliant read and is educating me about the flavour, history and craft of my favourite amber liquid. And my soul is being nourished by the book Everyone on the Train is a Suspect by Aussie author Benjamin Stevenson who has a way of writing that is my ideal combination of theatre and whimsy.
What are you currently listening to?
Unsurprisingly I am currently listening to an awful lot of Donizetti in preparation for my upcoming production of Lucia. Outside of that I fancy myself quite the eclecticist when it comes to music. Every year my Spotify Wrapped looks like it was curated by a toddler drunk of Cottees Raspberry Cordial. A quick flick through my shuffle reveals Billy Joel, Ball Park Music, Orville Peck, Rossini’s La Cenorentola and the Kooks. Variety is after all the spice of life.
Happiness is?
Happiness is infinite but momentary. It is a million tiny moments that make me smile, the sound of an orchestra tuning, the look on my dog’s face when she realises I’m taking her to the beach, the taste of salt on the rim of the margarita glass, the frosty feeling of your nose on a dawn hike. Watching your friends succeed, my family grow and the quiet thrill of life unfolding in unexpected ways.
What does the future hold for you?
The future? More, more-ness. I’m a glutton for the work I get to do, for the ever-growing possibility of stories and stages. I want to keep my hands in the dirt, grounded in the grit but have my dreams in the clouds. My path is simple: make good art with great people.
Laura is the Revival Director of State Opera South Australia’s production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor – which plays Adelaide’s Her Majesty’s Theatre from 8 – 16 November 2024. For more information, visit: www.stateopera.com.au for details.
Image: Laura Hansford – photo by Andrew Beveridge