Mills
Eucalyptus
Sydney Opera House22–25 March 2027
Mills
Eucalyptus
Sydney Opera House22–25 March 2027
Choose a date to see seats and prices
See All Events2027
March
22 Mar 2027
24 Mar 2027
25 Mar 2027
Venue
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney
Language
Performed in English with surtitles.
Running time
Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one interval.
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Commissioned by Opera Australia and Victorian Opera.
Eucalyptus is a co-production by Opera Australia and Victorian Opera.
Eucalyptus is supported by Philip Bacon AO and Dame Carol Grigor DBE
Stories in the trees. Weave them out of bark and leaves.
There are more than 800 species of Eucalyptus in Australia. There is only one Ellen Holland.
Ellen’s beauty is famous for miles around. Her overprotective father has created a safe place to protect her from the world: a forest of Eucalypts. Eucalyptus australiana, Eucalyptus marginata, Eucalyptus maidenii … lovingly planted, staked, tied. But is the forest a sanctuary or is Ellen imprisoned?
Eucalyptus is an ageless story of love and longing about a daughter and a father.
Unable to bear the thought of losing Ellen, her father announces a competition. He sets an impossible task: only a man who can name all the trees on his land may marry his daughter.
As suitors cross the world to try their luck, Ellen encounters a stranger amongst her father’s trees: a storyteller with enchanting tales of faraway lands.
Sir Jonathan Mills and Meredith Oakes’ new opera, based on Murray Bail’s beloved novel, has played to rave reviews in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Now it’s Sydney’s turn.
Renowned Australian playwright and director Michael Gow directs this deeply moving production, with designs by Simone Romaniuk. Desiree Frahn, Simon Meadows and Samuel Dundas reprise their roles along with Michael Petruccelli, who won a Green Room Award for his portrayal of ‘The Stranger’.
“What a performance! ★★★★”
The Age
Cast & Creative
Composer
Librettist
After the novel by
Conductor
Director
Set & Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Ellen
Holland
The Stranger
Mr Cave
Sprunt Sister 1
Sprunt Sister 2
Opera Australia Orchestra
Opera Australia Chorus
Eucalyptus - Victorian Opera (2024)
Photo: Charlie Kinross
Eucalyptus - Victorian Opera (2024)
Photo: Charlie Kinross
Eucalyptus - Victorian Opera (2024)
Photo: Charlie Kinross
Eucalyptus - Victorian Opera (2024)
Photo: Charlie Kinross
Eucalyptus - Victorian Opera (2024)
Photo: Charlie Kinross
Eucalyptus - Victorian Opera (2024)
Photo: Charlie Kinross
Jonathan Mills on writing his ethereal opera, Eucalyptus
Learn how the award-winning composer created this exciting new opera, based on the beloved novel.
Synopsis
Holland, a widower, lives with his daughter on a property in the country where he has planted every kind of eucalypt he can lay his hands on.
His daughter has become a young woman, and her beauty attracts attention wherever they go. But Ellen has no interest in romance. Holland, anxious to find the right man for his daughter, announces a competition: the man who can correctly name, on the spot, all the species of eucalypts on Holland’s land will become Ellen’s husband.
Ellen is horrified and, to the amazement of the locals, contestants come from far and wide. But they all fall short before the test is completed. A likely winner eventually emerges – a middleaged tree expert called Mr Cave.
Ellen, wandering alone in the forest where she feels safe, discovers a man sleeping under a tree. This Stranger is about to identify the tree, but instead begins to tell Ellen stories inspired by trees that remain nameless.
Ellen is fascinated and shocked by the Stranger’s tales. She becomes obsessed with the stories and attracted to their teller. She discovers a deeper meaning in the stories, and finds the freedom and courage to make her own decisions about her life.
The story moves between the house and forest on Holland’s property, and locations in the nearby small town. The townspeople, including the ever-watchful Sprunt sisters, comment freely on events. Trees and the river play their part as well.
Commissioned by Opera Australia and Victorian Opera.
Eucalyptus is a co-production by Opera Australia and Victorian Opera.
Eucalyptus is supported by Philip Bacon AO and Dame Carol Grigor DBE