La Bohème – the original bohemian love story
Published on 30 June 2025
Rockhampton theatregoers can experience the original bohemian love story live on stage at the Pilbeam Theatre in July, when Opera Australia performs Puccini’s La Bohème.
Credited with being the inspiration for Moulin Rouge and RENT, La Bohème’s glorious music and universal themes of love, friendship and loss make it a story that is enticing for opera fans and easily accessible for newcomers.
The story begins on Christmas Eve, when two hands meet in the dark and four friends lives change forever. For Mimì and Rodolfo, it’s love at first touch. They head out to bustling Café Momus, where the feisty Musetta and Marcello rekindle their relationship. But even the deepest love can’t warm a freezing winter. Rodolfo and his friends are determined to make their mark on the world and experience everything it has to offer – but right now they'd settle for something warm to eat.
Award-winning director Dean Bryant (Anything Goes, Sweet Charity) brings his trademark wit and vivacity to this 70s inspired production.
Led by conductor Simon Bruckard, the production boasts a cast of brilliant singers and musicians, breathing fresh life into one of the world’s most loved operas including sopranos Danita Weatherstone and Maia Andrews sharing the role of Mimì, tenors John Longmuir and Nick Kirkup as Rodolfo, sopranos Cathy-Di Zhang and Sarah Prestwidge as Musetta and baritones Andrew Williams and Benjamin Del Borrello as Marcello.
This production of La Bohème also features a Children’s Chorus, made up of Central Queensland young people. The group has been rehearsing with local choir master Hainian Yu in the lead up to the show.
La Bohème is sung in Italian with English surtitles. It will be performed at the Pilbeam Theatre on Tuesday 29 July at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale now for the Pilbeam Theatre Box Office phone 4927 4111 and www.seeitlive.com.au
La Bohème is presented by Rockhampton Regional Council and is part of the 2025 See It Live Theatre Season.
This production is supported by the Opera Conference, Australia’s national partnership of professional opera companies, the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts investment and advisory body, by the NSW Government through Create NSW, and by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.
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