Media Release: THE PRIESTESS OF MORPHINE: Sex, Drugs, and…Opera
Image credit: Cole Currie
Tenth Muse Initiative & The Blue Room Theatre present:
THE PRIESTESS OF MORPHINE
Sex, Drugs, and…Opera
Tenth Muse Initiative is proud to present the Australian Premiere of contemporary opera The Priestess of Morphine as part of The Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights program.
Marie-Madeleine. Lover of Women - and Morphine.
In a setting as intimate as her poetry, Tenth Muse Initiative brings to life the parallel worlds of Baroness Gertrud Günther von Puttkamer and her nom de plume, Marie-Madeleine.
While the Baroness lived a life of security as a member of the German aristocracy, her alter-ego Marie-Madeleine was a Jewish writer of erotic sapphic poetry in a world where every aspect of her identity was considered a threat to those in power. Told through a series of vignettes we bear witness as Gertrud observes Marie-Madeleine and her descent into morphine addiction.
“They tried to burn me, to bury my words. They tried.
They tried, but they failed.”
Short in length at under an hour, The Priestess of Morphine is big on drama. An English-language production with accompanying captions, the presentation of this high-quality opera from some of Boorloo’s brightest emerging classical musicians is perfect for audiences who are new to the genre. Led by emerging producer Hannah Lee Tungate and directed by Rachel Doulton, this opera features stunning performances from singers Jessica Taylor (Baroness Gertrud Günther von Puttkamer) and Ava Charleson (Marie-Madeleine) with an atmospheric design reminiscent of the cabarets of the era, this story of a rediscovered literary heroine is one which will stay with audiences long after they have left the theatre.
THE PRIESTESS OF MORPHINE
When: 31 Jan – 4 Feb 2023 at 8pm, 55mins
Where: The Blue Room Theatre, 53 James Street, Northbridge WA
Tickets: $20 – $28 incl. booking fee
summernights.org.au (08) 9227 7005
For more information, images, and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Tenth Muse Initiative - Hannah Lee Tungate - 0459 481 283 - tenthmuseinitiative@gmail.com
Tenth Muse Initiative is a collective of creatives working on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja to address the inequities in the classical music sphere. We celebrate the stories of underrepresented composers, artists, and musicians by creating platforms for their work. Find us: Facebook, Instagram, & www.tenthmuseinitiative.com.au
