Another innovative initiative from an international collaborative team: visionary Artistic Director Linda Thompson with experimental stage director Luke Landric Leonard bring contemporary opera performances to the public, in unexpected spaces. 

 

Featuring ACOCO's 2025 Rising Artists in costume and staged performances, Random Acts are a unique blend of operatic story-telling and modern urban landscapes.​ This new collaboration between Thompson and Leonard delivers unforgettable immersive public art experiences, challenging the boundaries of experimental public art, and the way people experience opera.

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Throughout 2025, there will be multiple opportunities to witness the transformation of spaces, streets and parks into impromptu opera houses.  Keep your eyes and ears open for these surprising bursts of musical and theatrical brilliance!

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ARTISTIC RATIONALE:

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Luke Landric Leonard's impressive background as a theatre director, designer, and filmmaker, with his "edgy choreographed directorial style" made him a perfect fit for this experimental endeavour. His broad experience with contemporary theatre direction and design aligns with the aims for our Rising Artists; to expose and involve them to new ideas and unique visions to elevate their performances.

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Random Acts of Opera brings opera out of traditional venues and into the daily lives of unsuspecting audiences, creating a truly immersive and surprising public art experience.

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As Stage Director, Luke's role involved

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- Collaborating with our Rising Artists to adapt arias for 'Random Acts'
- Conceptualising, directing and designing the 'staging' of these performances in public spaces
- Mentoring young opera singers in innovative and bold approaches to performance

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ACOCO achieved the following outcomes for our Rising Artists:

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- Exposure to challenging, cutting-edge directorial techniques
- Developing skills - including coping mechanisms - in unconventional performance settings

- Broadened understanding of international contemporary opera presentation and processes.

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We are particularly excited about cross-cultural pollination of ideas, particularly stemming from Luke Landric Leonard's recent work as Assistant Professor of Experimental Media and Performance at Seoul Institute of the Arts, combined with the new generation ideas and perceptions of our Rising Artist performers.

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This project was conceived and designed to connect contemporary opera with people, contribute to the growth of experimental opera in Australia, using traditional vocal foundations, and provide our Rising Artists with invaluable experience in pushing the boundaries of their craft alongside the general public going about their lives.

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If you're planning an Event or Festival, and would like to book 'Random Acts', please contact Catherine - email c.manning@acoco.org.au - to discuss your requirements.