The Rabbits at Playhouse, QPAC

John Marsden and Shaun Tan's haunting picture book captivated a generation of children and adults, with its bold pictures and deeply moving story of progress, displacement and culture clash. It is a story that speaks to the world.

Opera Australia and Barking Gecko Theatre Company assembled some of Australia's foremost creative talents to adapt this story into a new opera for children and families. The result is "a triumphant adaptation of a deeply tragic story", wrote The Guardian.

Gabriela Tylesova's sets and costumes realise Tan's pictures in all of their mystical wonder, while Lally Katz transforms Marsden's spare poetry into an enchanting libretto. Butterfly-voiced opera and pop singer Kate Miller-Heidke wrote the "simply beautiful" score (The Guardian) and performs in the production alongside a talented cast of opera singers and contemporary music performers.

The Rabbits won four Helpmann Awards, including Best New Australian Work, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, and Best Presentation for Children.
Ages: Recommended for ages 8+