After more than two years of disruption due to COVID-19 restrictions, Coast Opera Australia is set to re-launch in 2023 with a “back to basics” program and a new chairman at the helm.
Well known actor, director, producer, writer and biographer Graeme Blundell has a wealth of experience both on stage and in TV and movies as well as on the business side of the arts industry.
Remembered as the lead actor in the iconic 1970s Australian film Alvin Purple, he has also worked at La Mama Theatre, the Pram Factory, Hoopla, the Playbox Theatre Company and the Melbourne Theatre Company.
He directed and acted in the premiere performance of Jack Hibberd’s play Dimboola at La Mama and his first television appearance was as an uncredited extra in the debut episode of Homicide in 1964.
He has written extensively in The Australian newspaper (and still does) as well as writing biographies of Brett Whiteley (with his then wife Margot Hilton), Graham Kennedy and most recently Bert Newton.
“My background is not chiefly associated with opera, but I have had a long involvement with theatre and music,” he said.
“I have directed productions of Hair, The Threepenny Opera and The Sentimental Bloke and have a huge admiration for the human voice – especially the majesty of operatic voices.”
Blundell also knows the ins and outs of getting theatrical companies off the ground, having started the Australian Performing Group in the ‘60s, being Social Director of the Melbourne Theatre Company for some years and being instrumental in establishing the Playhouse Theatre in Melbourne (now the Malthouse Theatre).
“I know how hard it is to establish a company and Coast Opera is a professional company,” he said.
“It is great to come into the company as it begins with pretty much a new slate.
“I have some ideas already formulating and it will be interesting to see where we can go.”
Founder and Artistic Director Angela Brewer said Coast Opera Australia was “rebuilding” following disruptions to performances over the past two years and would go back to basics with its 2023 season, to be announced early in the new year.
“We will present intimate performances by artists including Terry Tahu Rhodes, Deborah Humble, Viktoria Bolonina and conductor Luke Spicer in a downscaled COVID safe format and plan to end the year with a full-scale opera,” she said.
“We also plan to feature some other genres of music in our program, including a bit of Gilbert and Sullivan and some German Lieder songs.
“We will be re-engaging with our supporters and offering subscriptions on our website early next year.”
Both Brewer and Blundell are keen to broaden the company’s appeal.
“We want to present pure voices with no amplification or add-ons,” Blundell said.
“It is important to make opera accessible to the wider community.”
Brewer also paid tribute to the huge support offered by the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts.
“Several scholarships from the Foundation have enabled us to work with performers and prepare them for the world stage,” she said.
The 2023 program and subscription details will be available at www.coastoperaaustralia.com early next year.
Terry Collins