ABC, Opera Australia and the Australia Council for the Arts present Bliss, the world premiere of a new Australian opera and adaptation of Peter Carey’s award-winning landmark first novel. A live performance of this bold production will be screened live from the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday March 17 from 4.30pm.
Neil Armfield directs the dangerous tale of Harry Joy’s (Peter Coleman-Wright) near death experience and subsequent return to life to find his world has been transformed into a Kafkaesque nightmare.
Once a flourishing and carefree advertising executive, Harry’s twisted reality resembles a hellish underworld where the excesses of the 80s meet sex, drugs and social dysfunction. He discovers that his son (tenor David Corcoran) is peddling drugs for sexual favours with his sister (soprano Taryn Fiebig), his wife (soprano Merlyn Quaife) is indulging in a lusty affair with Harry’s business partner (tenor Kanen Breen) and the advertising agency he once proudly led has resorted to flogging cancer causing products.
Harry’s only respite comes in the form of a prostitute, Honey B, (Lorina Gore) who he falls madly, deeply in love with… but can love conquer his tormented hell?
Jennifer Byrne and Chris Taylor host ABC2 LIVE presents Bliss and take us backstage during interval to capture exclusive interviews with principal artists and crew.
This highly anticipated opera event is by composer Brett Dean and award-winning librettist Amanda Holden. Dean’s music is by turns fascinating, atmospheric and beautiful. Elgar Howarth conducts Bliss.

FREE LIVE EVENT AT GRAND CINEMAS BUNBURY ON WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH AT 4.30PM

It’s the summer of 1969 and young WILLIE is filled with the life of the idyllic old pearling port Broome, in the North of Western Australia - fishing, hanging out with his mates, and when he can, his girl ROSIE. However his mother THERESA has great hopes for him and she returns him to the religious mission in Perth for further schooling. After being punished by FATHER BENEDICTUS for an act of youthful rebellion, Willie runs away from the mission. But to where... he’s too ashamed to go home, it will break his mother’s heart.

Down on his luck he meets an old fella, who he calls ‘Uncle’ TADPOLE, and together they con a couple of hippies, ANNIE and SLIPPERY, into taking them on the 2,500 km journey through spectacular landscape back to Broome. Willie learns the hard and funny lessons he needs to get home, all the while pursued by Father Benedictus.