MARY MOTORHEAD
Locked up for stabbing her husband in the head with a 12 inch carving knife, the compelling monodrama Mary Motorhead invites us to hear Mary’s “secret history” – disappointments and betrayals that shaped her life. In her ACOCO debut as Mary, Australian mezzo soprano Emily Edmonds faces the ugly side of life, and invites audiences to examine their own secret histories.

TRADE
A clandestine meeting in a seedy hotel room between a ‘rent boy’ and his closeted client. The older man has blood on his shirt. In a cheap hotel room, they wrestle with their own inner demons and need for each other. Leading Australian baritone Christopher Hillier portrays a family man whose world is crumbling, determined to take charge of his future. Led by Grammy-nominated Irish conductor Elaine Kelly in her Australian debut, Elaine is known for her expressive interpretations and innovative approach to contemporary opera, bringing a powerful emotional depth to the stage. She describes Mary Motorhead and Trade as “devastating and beautiful at the same time”.