Meeting up with designer Brian King

In the 2008 production of Cosi in Dunedin, our beautiful Brighton Beach set was designed by Brian King who now lives in Wellington and works at Toi Whakaari. For old times' sake he agreed to get on board once again and work with director Jacqui Coats on a travelling version of the set.

Georgia, Jacqui and Georgia's 2-year-old son and unofficial Cosi ambassador, Raphael Heuser, met with Brian to get an idea of what the stage is going to look like. The set has to be practical, easily moveable and packed away at the end of a show into a cargo van. A floor cloth in beachy pastels will cover the stage floor and show the floor from outdoor to indoor, aka Fiordiligi and Dorabella's conservatory.

There will be a bathing hut on one side of the stage and lovely French doors with an airy curtain to provide entry points for the characters.

It is so exciting to see all these creative elements coming together!

Target reached!

With 24 hours to go, Wanderlust met their fundraising goal - what an amazing Christmas present for the hard-working cast and crew.

THANK YOU to all those who contributed to the Boosted Campaign. We had 28 donors and 14 chose to remain anonymous. If we knew who you were there would be hugs and kisses for all.

We're now looking forward to a wee break over Christmas and New Year and we begin with the first music rehearsals on January 10th.

But first, our wee blonde mascot, Raphael (you can catch him at the end of the boosted video) is turning two and we've got to get the candles on the tractor cake...

Boosted Campaign

The Arts Foundation runs this excellent crowd-funding initiative supporting artists and performers with their projects.

We are hoping to raise $3000 to help with the costs of the tour.

Click on the link if you are able to donate - even a small amount makes a huge difference. There's also a great video on here where you can meet the cast and crew of Cosi, plus a cameo from our mascot and youngest supporter, 2-year-old Raf!

Check out our Boosted Campaign.

Costumes Arrive!

Costume designer for the Opera Otago production of Cosi, Brenda Rendell, organised the delivery (in person no less) of the costumes to the Wanderlust office today. Here's director Jacqueline Coats with the original Dorabella and Ferrando costumes, still in perfect condition.

Georgia Jamieson Emms wonders if she can still get into the Fiordiligi costume that she wore in 2008. Great news, the dressing gown fits perfectly!

Creative Communities Funding

The Creative Communities Scheme is a relationship between Creative NZ and local authorities and supports opportunities for New Zealanders to participate in the arts in their local community.

The Carterton Community Arts Council administers this scheme on behalf of the Carterton District. 

Wanderlust Opera is grateful to the Carterton District Council for their support of Cosi Fan Tutte.

Wanderlust Opera Announces Tour

In an interview with NZ Opera News, Wanderlust director Georgia Jamieson Emms announced it's first fully staged opera, Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte, with a touring production that was first produced by Opera Otago as part of the Dunedin Arts Festival in 2008.

Jacqueline Coats will once again direct, Bruce Greenfield has come on board as musical director with designs by Brian King of Toi Whakaari and costumes by Brenda Rendell. Jamieson Emms and Matthew Landreth from the original cast will reprise their roles as Fiordiligi and Don Alfonso. Joining the cast are mezzo-soprano Brigitte Heuser as Dorabella, Cameron Barclay as Ferrando, Imogen Thirlwall as Despina and Stuart Coats as Guglielmo.

The Cosi tour will take place in late Feb/early March 2016 and will be visiting smaller towns in the lower North Island, places that traditionally do not see a lot of opera, if any.

Jamieson Emms said: "Seeing what wonderful, quirky, accessible things the small German companies do to bring in new audiences inspired me to start this company and take opera into opera-starved towns. Like the Wairarapa! I should know!"

The opera will be performed in English with a fun new translation, and will be performed in smaller venues and centres because opera really should be for everyone, for people of all ages.

CAST/CREW:

Director: Jacqueline Coats
Musical director: Bruce Greenfield
Set design: Brian King
Costume design: Brenda Rendell
Producer: Georgia Jamieson Emms

Fiordiligi: Georgia Jamieson Emms
Dorabella: Brigitte Heuser
Ferrando: Cameron Barclay
Guglielmo: Stuart Coats
Despina: Imogen Thirlwall
Don Alfonso: Matthew Landreth

TOUR DATES:

NEW PLYMOUTH Tuesday 23rd & Wednesday 24th Feb, 4th Wall Theatre
CARTERTON Friday 26th & Saturday 27th Feb, Carterton Events Centre
LOWER HUTT Sunday 28th Feb (matinee performance), Little Theatre
PALMERSTON NORTH Tuesday 1st March, Globe Theatre
KAPITI COAST Wednesday 2nd March, Southwards Theatre Paraparaumu