Humphrey Bower

Fond farewells to Secret Opera: The Marriage of Figaro which I had the pleasure and privilege of adapting and directing for WA Opera at IKEA in Innaloo as part of Perth Festival 2026. Special thanks to Maestro Chris van Tuinen (Artistic Director of WA Opera and Musical Director) for coming up with the idea and adapting the opera with me for five performers and three musicians. Thanks also to Bayden Adams for his amazing work in reducing the score for clarinet, cello and keyboard; to dream design team Fiona Bruce (hilarious IKEA costumes and cunning deployment of existing layout, furniture, props and signage in the bedding section, bistro and garden furniture section) and Mark Haslam (equally brilliant use of existing and additional lighting); to the calm and collected organisational and logistical nous of Ginny van Tuinen (special project manager) and Many Farmer (production manager); to musicians Lydia Lye (piano), Melinda Forsythe (cello) and Ashley Smith (clarinet); to all at WA Opera who helped to make this happen; and above all to the dazzling cast: Sam Claxton (Figaro), Claire Condipodero (Susanna), Benjamin Dell Borrello (Mr Conti), Jessica Blunt (Mrs Conti), and Ruth Burke (Cherubino). 'Ah tutti contenti saremo cosi!'