"Not hunger, it’s not hunger, but power. My power." - Comfort Starving, Bell

Triple Bill explores three intimate stories of relationships and connection to oneself, a former partner, and a parent and child. Through three short works, this program reveals how inner emotional worlds alone can sustain powerful opera performances.

At its core is Francis Poulenc’s The Human Voice, a groundbreaking monodrama that strips opera back to a single voice and a final phone call with a lost lover—raw, exposed, and devastatingly human.

The program continues with the Australian premieres of two contemporary works by internationally acclaimed composers Iain Bell and Jake Heggie. Bell’s Comfort Starving, presented in Australia for the first time, is a confronting portrait of teenage anorexia, particularly within the LGBTIQA+ community, capturing the physical and psychological turmoil behind an outward condition. Heggie’s Facing Forward / Looking Back explores a mother–daughter relationship shaped by memory, distance, and the search for understanding.

With no grand sets or spectacle, Triple Bill places the voice and the mind at the centre. This is opera at its most intimate - where emotional truth takes the stage.

Program

Francis Poulenc The Human Voice— a devastating portrait of heartbreak
Jake Heggie Facing Forward / Looking Back - a mother-daughter reflect on the past while seeking understanding in the present (Australian Premiere)

Important Notes:

Due to illness, Liam Jackson will be unable to perform this week and will be replaced by Camilo Lopez. As a result, Comfort Starving will no longer be part of this week’s performances. Another work that continues the production’s exploration of raw, deeply human experiences will performed instead.
A percentage of the gross revenue from Triple Bill will be donated to support those affected by the devastating double earthquake that struck Venezuela on 24 June.
This production contains strong references to self-harm, homophobia, and explicit language.

Contact the host of Triple Bill

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