“Opera, at its heart, is great storytelling through music,” says WA Opera Artistic Director Chris van Tuinen. “And what speaks better to the human condition than a story shared, enjoyed, reflected on, and cherished?”

Stories of connection and of coming together through art are driving West Australian Opera in 2024, beginning with a world premiere that couldn’t be made anywhere else – Wundig wer Wilura.

Jarred Wall and Jess Hitchcock: Wundig wer Wilura. Image supplied

Created by award-winning WA songwriters and storytellers Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse and sung entirely in Noongar, this production – a keystone production of the already announced 2024 Perth Festival – draws on an ancient story of a young couple whose love for each other defies ‘wrong-skin’ law and custom. The production is directed by Matt Reuben James Ward (La bohème, Koolbardi wer Wardong), conducted by Aaron Wyatt (Speechless), and stars Jarred Wall (Koolbardi wer Wardong) as Wundig and Jess Hitchcock (The Visitors) as Wilura.

Perth Festival goers will also see the West Australian...