The Drover’s Wife has been shortlisted for a 2026 International Opera Award in the World Premiere category, putting the Australian work in contention for one of opera’s major international prizes.

The Drover’s Wife. Photo © Carlita Sari

Co-commissioned by Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Opera Australia, in association with Oombarra Productions, The Drover’s Wife features music by Australian composer George Palmer and a libretto co-written by Palmer and Leah Purcell, a proud Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka Murri woman. Purcell has previously adapted Henry Lawson’s 1892 short story as a play, novel and feature film.

The opera had its world premiere at Brisbane’s Glasshouse Theatre at QPAC in May followed by a sell-out Sydney Opera House season in August. It will have its Melbourne premiere in May 2027 as part of OA’s season.

The production combines Palmer’s score with contemporary First Nations storytelling, with direction by Purcell and choreography by Bidjara woman Yolande Brown, a former Bangarra dancer. The creative team includes set designer Isabel Hudson, costume designer Tess Schofield, lighting designer Karen Norris, video designer Craig Wilkinson and sound designer Michael Waters.

The Drover’s Wife is...