Opera in the Outback

Opera in the Outback offers a wry, fly-on-the-wall view of the lead-up to a most unusual event: the first concert by Kiri Te Kanawa in the Australian outback. Kiwi director Stephen Latty and writer Michael Heath realise the people are the story, from affable locals to those preparing for 9000 joyful, sometimes drunken arrivals. The inhabitants of Beltana — population roughly 12 — risk building a new racetrack for visitors less operatically inclined, while Australian National Railways send all the rolling stock they can. Some of the Kiwi film crew were awake for 52 hours, trying to capture it all.

Because of the opera, and the racecourse being built, everybody, I mean all of the locals — and when I say all of the locals, that’s the whole 12 of us sort of thing — have had a fair bit put on us to do in a short time, and it really has brought out the best in everybody.

– Local woman in the town of Beltana

Key Cast & Crew

Stephen Latty

Director

Jane Gilbert

Producer

Michael Heath

Writer, Second Unit Director

Doug Brimblecombe

Concert Sound

Howard Page

Concert Lighting

Bob Lott

Concert Event Director