Update on VIC Opera’s PARRWANG LIFTS THE SKY

Due to the challenges presented by Victoria’s lockdown, Victorian Opera has been required to cancel its in-theatre season of Deborah Cheetham’s new opera Parrwang Lifts the Sky.

A livestream originally scheduled for Saturday 12 June has been rescheduled for Saturday 19 June, 2pm. The stream will be available live and on-demand for six months. Existing ticket holders may seek to refund their tickets or convert them to Digital Access for the livestreamed performance.

Commissioned by Victorian Opera, the new production is the company’s Education opera for 2021. Performances for schools have similarly been cancelled and students will also experience the performance via livestream. This performance will mark the culmination of Victorian Opera’s Access All Areas: Livestream Program through which students have been introduced to how opera is brought to the stage across four interactive streamed workshops.

Parrwang Lifts the Sky tells the creation story of the sunrise based on a traditional story connected to Wadawurrung County. A long time ago, the sky was a blanket on the land. The earth was in darkness and the people were afraid. It was a very sad state of affairs and would have stayed that way except for the courage of Parrwang the magpie.

Tjatjarrang (Big Sister) and Koki (Brother) are young, adventurous and tired of living in the dark. When they manage to climb to the highest branches of an ancient gum tree, they discover an exciting new world and a steadfast friend in Parrwang, who decides to help the young humans lift the blanket of darkness from the ground.

A plan is devised, but can Parrwang convince the Great Council of Birds to agree?

Join Victorian Opera for this world premiere livestream of Deborah Cheetham’s Parrwang Lifts the Sky, presented in association with Short Black Opera.

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Session Details

Venue: Victorian Opera
Date: June 19, 2021
Tickets: $30
Bookings via  www.victorianopera.com.au/digital-access