Opera Up Late is the kind of glitter-soaked theatrical fever dream that reminds you why live performance exists. Set against the playful decadence of The Barber of Seville set at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre, and guided by the deft direction by Shaun Rennie, this late-night romp from Opera Australia explodes with wit, vocal fireworks and delicious chaos.
Hosted by the outrageously charismatic and wickedly debaucherous Reuben Kaye – a master of camp who struts, purrs, and slays with razor-sharp comedic venom – the evening unfurls like a love letter to opera. Kaye doesn’t so much host as rule the stage with a fabulous iron fist, commanding laughs, gasps, and the occasional scandalised snort.
The star-studded cast delivers performances that are both virtuosic and delightfully unhinged. Tenor Tomas Dalton gleams with effortless charm and golden tone, mezzo-soprano Angela Hogan dazzles with sumptuous power and magnetic presence, and soprano Emma Matthews – ever the queen – gleams with crystalline brilliance and fearless theatricality. Their chemistry, playful irreverence, and sheer technical command make each aria feel both iconic and wickedly reborn.
Dancers Clayton Church and Nicholas Jachno weave through the madness like glittering spirits of mischief, adding physical wit and heat to the already electric atmosphere. Pianists Simon Bruckard and Shanon D Whitelock anchor the mayhem with virtuosic finesse, proving that elegance and camp are far from mutually exclusive.
The musical selections – from Sempre Libera to Nessun Dorma, the swaggering Sailor Boys (Les Marins) to the delicious whimsy of Glitter and Be Gay, the yearning tenderness of I’m Kissing You to the anthemic Over the Rainbow – form a cheeky, dazzling journey across classical bravura, queer glamour, pop-culture reverence and theatrical provocation.
Originally conceived for World Pride, Opera Up Late is a glitter cannon loaded with queer romance, high drama, and riotous humour – a cabaret-opera hybrid that gleefully demolishes genre boundaries. It’s a seductive gateway for the opera-curious and a champagne-fuelled celebration for devotees. I for one can’t wait for the next instalment.
Opera Up Late
Regent Theatre, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne
Performance: Sunday 2 November 2025 – 9.00pm
Information: www.opera.org.au
Images: Reuben Kaye in Opera Australia’s Opera Up Late (2025) – photo by Cameron Grant Parenthesy | Emma Matthews and Reuben Kaye in Opera Australia’s Opera Up Late (2025) – photo by Cameron Grant Parenthesy | The Cast of Opera Australia’s Opera Up Late (2025) – photo by Cameron Grant Parenthesy
Review: Rohan Shearn