ABOUT | Wellington Opera

About Wellington Opera

Wellington Opera creates world-class opera with internationally-renowned New Zealand artists and the best of our emerging international singers for an enthusiastic and demanding audience from Wellington and around Aotearoa New Zealand.

Wellington Opera provides our internationally successful Aotearoa New Zealand singers and creatives the opportunity to perform and be heard by audiences at home.

The company provides unique opportunities for the finest of our emerging international stars to develop roles and experience to underpin their developing careers.

Wellington Opera thanks presenting sponsor The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation for essential support.

WELLINGTON OPERA - COMPANY

OUR PEOPLE

Governance & Management

The Wellington Opera Trust is chaired by past mayor of Wellington Dame Kerry Prendergast, with trustees John Boshier (Treasurer), Sally Abernethy, Jan Dunne, Jenn Little, John Hunn, Elizabeth Aitken and Matthew Ross.

Dame Kerry Prendergast

CHAIR, WELLINGTON OPERA TRUST

I am delighted to be involved in the Wellington Opera Trust.

Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this seasoN to the stage and thank you for your support of Wellington Opera and the art form by buying tickets and coming along!

I wish the company all the very best for the upcoming season.

Thank you for supporting the company and helping ensure Wellington maintains its position as the country's Creative Capital.

Matthew Ross

DIRECTOR, WELLINGTON OPERA

Wellington Opera’s season programming is driven by the casting opportunities that we envision – presenting Aotearoa New Zealand singers. Once again, we present a stunning NZ cast for 2025.

It’s remains important to me that the company is fully engaging the extraordinary creative talent in Wellington. Our direction and design team is again creating the full production here in Wellington.

The company is very heartened and strengthened by the support of the public, from the Wellington region and also the many of you who make the effort to attend from around the motu.

Hannah Catrin Jones

MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

marketing@wellingtonopera.nz

Oliver Frost

ADMINISTRATOR

admin@wellingtonopera.nz

Premiere2-Oli Frost-034_edited_edited.jpg

Wellington Opera Production/Operations

Director – Jacqueline Coats

Set Design – Michael Zaragoza

Costume Design – Rebecca Bethan Jones

Lighting Design – Rowan McShane

Assistant Director – Waitahi Aniwaniwa McGee

Chorus Director – Michael Vinten

Repetiteurs – Mark Wigglesworth, David Kelly

Fight Director - Simon Manns

Intimacy Coordinator - Lori Leigh

STAGE MANAGER

Boo Pantoja-Frost

DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER

Charlie Adams

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Waitahi Aniwaniwa McGee

STAGE MANAGEMENT INTERNS

Sarah Davitt

Jamie Little

Imogen Vlugter

WARDROBE SUPERVISOR

Sheila Horton

HEAD DRESSER

Lisa Hawken

WARDROBE ASSISTANT

Maysie Pyatt

HAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGNER

Michele Perry

MAKEUP ASSISTANTS

Nikita Magnus Samantha Bell Eilidh Mckirdy

SCULPTOR

Richard Fennell

HEAD MECHANIST

Glenn Watts

FLYMAN / 2ND MECHANIST

Paul Edlund

STAGE MECHANIST

Ashley Armstrong

STAGE MECHANIST INTERNS

Brooklyn Saunders Paige Johns

Joe McAllum Alexander Dickson

LIGHTING OPERATOR

Cameron Nicholls

FOLLOWSPOT OPERATORS

Luka Van Rensburg Sarah Turner

SET CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR

Geoff Goss

SET CONSTRUCTION

TĀWHIRI

SURTITLE OPERATORS

Christine Pearce mnzm Jim Pearce

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Nicholas Batey – Pre-Production

Alexander Dickson – Season/Post-Production

Theresa May Adams – Mentor

VIDEOGRAPHER

Jeremy Brick

FRONT OF HOUSE LIAISON

Katie Castro

Wellington Opera Chorus

SOPRANO 1

Olivia Fraser

Rosie Knight

Zoe Stocks

Matilda Wickbom

SOPRANO 2

Gemma Conn

Cadence Chung

Ishbel Eade

Francesca Fagan

Sinead Keane

MEZZO

Rose Aldridge

Ruth Armishaw

Jennifer Huckle

Kate Manahi

Helene Page

Vanessa Withy

TENOR 1

Chris Anderson

Bayley Goldstone

Ewen Griffiths

Theo Moolenaar

TENOR 2

Minto Fung

Patrick Geddes

Xavier Krause

Adam Nachowitz

Ben Priest

BASS

Brent Allcock

Richard Dean

Matthew Terry

David Barrow

Daniel O’Connor

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQs

What is the programming for 2025?

Wellington Opera is presenting Giuseppe Verdi’s A Masked Ball | Un Ballo in Maschera with performances Wednesday 6th August, Friday 8th August and Sunday 10th August 2025. Wellington Opera is also presenting the world-premiere of Dame Gillian Whitehead’s Mate Ururoa, 11-13 July at the Hannah Playhouse, with Stroma conducted by Hamish McKeich, together with Ross Harris’ Notes from the Front featuring renowned tenor, Richard Greager.
What ticketing options are there?

Previous Circle 500 members and Kawakawa, Miro and Kōwhai supporters will receive preferential access to Dress Circle bookings through Ticketmaster. For Pōhutukawa, Rimu and Totara supporters, Wellington Opera will allocate Dress Circle seats for the performance you choose. Kindly note that payment for tickets is separate to your donation, in accordance with IRD rules.
Why do you use Ticketmaster as your ticketing provider?

Ticketmaster is locked in as the exclusive provider for Venues Wellington, for the Opera House and the St James Theatre.
Has the Circle 500 programme changed?

Yes. We listened to feedback that many of you wanted to be able to select your own seats, so we will now be providing access to preferential seating through Ticketmaster. Additional benefits and invitations are now through the Supporters programme.
How does the Supporters programme work?

Our whānau of supporters is more vital than ever to the ongoing success of Wellington Opera, especially with the challenge for 2025 of no funding from Creative New Zealand. There is a now a more structured programme for Supporters to show how we want to recognise and show our thanks for your vital and generous support.

We'd love to hear from you!

CONTACT

Please get in touch using the form below.