Sydney-based Gente, gente! Productions is set to launch in 2026 with a bold double bill pairing Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Riders to the Sea” with selected works by his protégée, Dame Elizabeth Maconchy.

Directed by Bec Moret and conducted by Dr. Joanna Drimatis, the production centers female perspectives both on and off the stage, challenging operatic conventions through a modern, emotionally truthful approach.

“Riders to the Sea is a beautiful and tragic work by Ralph Vaughan Williams which is based on the play of the same name by John Millington Synge,” said conductor Dr. Joanna Drimatis, per an official press release. “The opera tells the story of the treacherous Irish coastline and its impact on the women and their families who live there. The strength of the women is dynamically portrayed in the lush score by Vaughan Williams. To complement the opera, the music of Elizabeth Maconchy pays tribute to the women of the story through the power of her vocal works that exhibit Maconchy’s both complex and lyrical approach to music construct.”

The production opens on Feb. 25 at Hunters Hill Town Hall with additional performances set for Feb. 28 and March 1. Then on Feb. 27, the production heads to Leichhardt Town Hall for one performance. The fully-staged production has a 70-minute runtime.

Gente, Gente is a grassroots, not-for-profit company operates on an optional donation basis, presenting opera in local venues with accessible storytelling. The production aims to address a critical gap in the Australian opera landscape by supporting early and mid-career artists beyond the traditional 26-year age cap of most young artist programs.

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