Reuben Kaye’s Hilarious “Opera Up Late” To Premiere In Melbourne — For One Night Only!
Following sold-out runs at The Sydney Opera House, Reuben Kaye’s wildly outrageous LGBTQIA+ inspired spectacle Opera Up Late is making its keenly anticipated Melbourne debut for one fabulous night only on Sunday, 2 November at The Regent Theatre.
The brainchild of Reuben Kaye, Melbourne-born, international comedy and cabaret icon, and award-winning director, Shaun Rennie, Opera Up Late was originally conceived for World Pride in 2023 as a late-night special. Its risqué blend of opera, comedy, and cabaret defies all genre expectations and leaves audiences in stitches.
Having hosted the saucy soiree earlier this year in The Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House, the irrepressible self-proclaimed opera lover is thrilled to bring the show to his hometown.
“Opera Up Late is unlike any opera you have ever seen. Equal parts hilarious, sexy, ridiculous, filthy, and very LGBTQIA+, it is Saturday Night Live meets opera! I am amazed that Opera Australia have given me the reigns and let us loose!
“I am stoked that we now have the opportunity to bring it to my hometown, Melbourne, one of the world’s great comedy destinations. For one night only, we get to turn the beloved opera genre on its head to give the audience a show they have never seen before or expected from Opera Australia,” said Kaye.
Joining Kaye on stage will be a star-studded line-up of Opera Australia performers, including the highly adored, multi-award-winning soprano Emma Matthews. Together, they will lend their voices to this bold and hilarious ride through the world of opera that promises to deliver high octaves and huge laughs.
Opera Up Late packs a punch of LGBTQIA+ romance, clever comedy, and high drama with loud costumes and wigs that is both the perfect launch pad for newbies to pop their opera cherries and for aficionados to celebrate this homage to some of the canon’s most iconic arias.
Kicking off at 9:00 pm, the revelry will feature an entertaining repertoire of re-imagined opera hits, musical theatre classics, and a hearty dose of pop numbers.
Event Details
- Date and Time: Sunday, 2 November 2025 at 9:00pm
- Venue: Regent Theatre, Melbourne
- Running Time: 75 minutes with no interval
- Bookings: Adult tickets from $79 (fees may apply)
- Box Office: 03 9685 3700 or www.opera.org.au/
- Media Enquiries: Janet Glover, Communications Manager | 0412 601 816 | janet.glover@opera.org.au
