West Australian Opera announces 2025 season

WAO2025 The Pirates of Penzance Ben MingayFor more than 55 years, West Australian Opera has proudly served as the state’s premier opera company; inspiring West Australians to dream through music, to discover new worlds through song and to be moved through the heart by the power of the human voice.

West Australian Opera’s 2025 season continues its longstanding tradition of presenting world-class, diverse, and innovative works that will consequently strike a chord with audiences; empower them and without a doubt move them.

In 2025, West Australians will first set sail with a band of misfit pirates in Gilbert & Sullivan’s hilarious The Pirates of Penzance, their emotions will soar with Puccini’s mesmerising Madama Butterfly, and they’ll be enthralled by the twists and turns in Verdi’s gripping Il trovatore. Audiences will also be invited to embark on a journey to experience opera – but not as they know it – in the Perth Festival’s presentation of Secret Opera.

“This magical artform threads together singing, drama, music, storytelling and unlocks imagination in audiences. Music has always had the power to move people,” said West Australian Opera’s Executive Director, Carolyn Chard AM.

“Theatre is an escape from the routine of the everyday. Our dream is to speak to the heart through the human voice. We want to share the joy of music through opera and the powerful stories opera tells.”

The Pirates of Penzance
Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilarious operetta, The Pirates of Penzance storms the stage of His Majesty’s Theatre from 28 March 5 April. Ben Mingay makes his highly anticipated return to West Australian Opera as the infamous Pirate King after wowing audiences with his portrayal of the titular character Sweeney Todd. Mingay reunites with Sweeney Todd director Stuart Maunder AM in this hilarious production which boasts an all-star cast including Andrew Foote, Alasdair Kent, Penny Shaw, and recent Performing Arts WA Award-winner Prudence Sanders.

Madama Butterfly
Hearts will flutter in the West Australian premiere of Opera Australia’s enchanting production of Madama Butterfly. Considered one of the crown jewels in Puccini’s repertoire, this exquisite production originally helmed by Moffatt Oxenbould AM will be staged at His Majesty’s Theatre from 26 July – 9 August. Mariana Hong will make her West Australian Opera debut as Cio-Cio-San; a young Japanese woman whose devotion to her absent soldier husband leads to tragic consequences. Paul O’Neill, Samuel Dundas and Fleuranne Brockway star in principal roles.

Il trovatore
From 16 – 25 October, Verdi’s Il trovatore will take centre stage at His Majesty’s Theatre. West Australian Opera Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Conductor, Asher Fisch and West Australian singers, James Clayton, Paul O’Neill, and Naomi Johns will weave new life into Verdi’s tangled web of vengeance, rivalry, and regret.

Secret Opera
In 2025, West Australian Opera continues its commitment to bringing opera to the wider community and beyond the stage with Secret Opera. In this innovative operatic experience, audiences will be instructed to meet at a mysterious meeting spot; where together they will then be led to an undisclosed location and uncover a secret opera, which will be performed to an audience of only 100 people. The first season of Secret Opera will be presented as part of Perth Festival from 14 – 16 February, with additional seasons across 2025.

“Opera, at its heart, is great storytelling through music. And what speaks better to the human condition than a story shared, enjoyed, reflected on, and cherished,” said West Australian Opera’s Artistic Director, Chris van Tuinen.

“It’s this love of connection, of coming together through great art that drives us as West Australian Opera to explore the repertoire, commission new works, travel to the corners of the state and deliver performances of the highest standard.”


Subscriptions for West Australian Opera’s 2025 season are now on sale. General tickets go on sale Thursday 21 November 2024. For more information, visit: www.waopera.asn.au for details.

Image: Ben Mingay to star in The Pirates of Penzance – courtesy of West Australian Opera