Rockdale Opera Company proudly presents the world premiere of a new Australian opera in a workshop performance of The Monk, a gothic chamber opera by Steven Stanke. Inspired by Matthew Gregory Lewis’s notorious 1796 novel, The Monk is set in Madrid, where piety, desire, and the supernatural collide. This gripping tale centres on Ambrosio, a celebrated monk whose ironclad virtue begins to crumble when he confronts temptation in its most beguiling forms. From its atmospheric opening scenes within the cloistered monastery to its seductive encounters, spectral visitations, and final harrowing downfall, The Monk conjures a world of mystery, passion, and moral peril. With its haunting music, intense drama, and shadowy gothic aesthetic, this bold new work promises an unforgettable journey into the depths of human frailty and forbidden desire.

Rockdale Opera Company is delighted to present Patience, or Bunthorne’s Bride, Gilbert & Sullivan’s sparkling satire of artistic fads, impossible romances, and the wonderfully silly lengths people will go to in the name of love. Set in a world overrun by swooning maidens and preening “aesthetic” poets, the opera follows the earnest milkmaid Patience, who finds herself at the centre of a hilariously overwrought love triangle. With velvet-clad poets, lovesick ladies, and a regiment of Dragoon Guards trying (and failing) to out-aesthetic the competition, Patience brims with wit, charm, and utterly joyful absurdity. Packed with clever wordplay, jaunty tunes, and G&S’s trademark sparkle, this comic gem promises an evening of laughter, romance, and deliciously over-the-top fun.

Do you love to sing? Have you ever chortled your favourite aria in the shower and wondered what it would be like to be a performer? Are you curious about how a chorus learns a new piece of music? Do you love the euphoric feeling engendered from singing en masse? Or do you simply love opera and fancy an afternoon of fun and camaraderie? If you answered yes to any of these questions, join us for the Company’s back-by-popular-demand 🎶🎶SING WITH ROCKDALE OPERA🎶🎶 at Rockdale Town Hall, 2pm on Saturday, 26 September, 2026. Come along and let our talented Musical Director, take you through 3 popular and well-known pieces from our repertoire of opera, operetta and Gilbert and Sullivan. No previous experience is required, just a love of singing and a desire to have fun for a couple of hours. Music will be provided in an email closer to the day, but don't worry; you do NOT need to be able to read music to participate!

Rockdale Opera Company is proud to present Faust, Charles Gounod’s grand and enduring masterpiece, where soaring lyricism meets supernatural intrigue. The story follows the aging scholar Faust, who, in a moment of despair, makes a fateful pact with Mephistopheles—trading his soul for youth, passion, and the promise of life's pleasures. What begins as a seductive dream soon spirals into a tragedy of temptation, love, and redemption, centred on the innocent Marguerite, whose life is forever changed by Faust’s bargain. Filled with some of the most beloved music in the operatic repertoire, Faust features unforgettable moments such as Mephistopheles’ gleefully sinister “The Golden Calf,” Marguerite’s exquisite Jewel Song, and the glorious tenor aria “Hail, Bright Abode!” Gounod’s lush score, stirring choruses, and dramatic contrasts between light and darkness create a richly emotional world where beauty and peril are never far apart. This sweeping opera offers romance, spectacle, and heart-wrenching drama—an evening of music and storytelling that continues to captivate audiences around the world.