Pavarotti, Piaf & Pavlova
Freeze Frame Opera is a Perth-based not-for-profit opera company that celebrates opera and prides itself on creating new productions using outstanding local artists, growing opera audiences and interest in opera, and benefiting the whole community with its fresh approach to the art of opera and storytelling.
FFO was incorporated in May 2016. Our first performance took place in November 2016. On 22 June 2017 we received our tax-deductible gift receipt (DGR) status, allowing us to fundraise, apply for grants and other funding and engage with donors to continue bringing accessible opera to Western Australians.
Since that first show in 2016, we have brought over 400 performances to the stage and employed more than 120 Western Australian based arts workers. Over the next five years we intend to bring 700 performances to Western Australia and provide 10,500 performance and creative opportunities to over 200 different artists and creatives.
Freeze Frame Opera acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation as the traditional owners and custodians of this beautiful land on which we are privileged to live, work, tell stories and dream.
FFO acknowledges with deep sorrow the stolen generations and the disproportionate incarceration of Aboriginal people.
FFO hopes for greater understanding and truthtelling about history and greater unity and equality for all Australians.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2021/22
Now in our 7th year of operation it is gratifying to see the recognition we have gained from our wonderful audiences, the professional community of singers & creatives, educational institutions, and the WA government and philanthropists.
During 2021/22 Freeze Frame Opera (FFO) demonstrated yet again the quality of our people and presentations, and our nimbleness in reacting quickly to changing Covid circumstances.
The highlight was undoubtedly when our Puccini operas Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicci (Angels and Devils) were recognised at the WA Performing Arts awards, winning best production, best director, and best performance in a lead role. The FFO was also awarded a grant from ABEC for the purchase of much needed equipment to support our future regional touring objectives.
When 50% restrictions were imposed on outdoor venues just days before our presentation of La Bohème at the Quarry in March 2022, we decided to add an extra show to ensure our performers and
audiences were not disappointed. Other shows around town were cancelled but we took the decision to continue even in the knowledge that our delicately balanced budget would blow out – with no chance of compensation.
Our Opera Truck continues to be in demand and we are close to 400 kerbside performances, providing work for singers and adding “something extra” to many occasions and celebrations around the suburbs of Perth.
I would like to acknowledge the excellent support of my fellow Board members during the year: Deborah Attard-Portughes, Kerrie-Anne King (Treasurer), Laurie Shervington, Sara Macliver, Tahnee Davies (Secretary), Mary-Alice Paton and our Founder and Artistic Director Harriet Marshall.
We were delighted to welcome Sara Macliver to the Board during the year and were sorry to say farewell to Tahnee Davies who retired after many years of excellent service as Secretary.
During the year we re-organised FFO’s administration in response to growing governance requirements, increasing audience numbers and expansion of our schools program. Harriet moved from the CEO role to Founder & Artistic Director, and Adele Williamson was promoted to General Manager. I would like to acknowledge the enthusiasm, commitment and hard work of Adele and Harriet, as well as that of Kerrie- Anne King and Tahnee Davies particularly, as we expand.
Our patron Janet Holmes à Court AC is an enthusiastic supporter who attends most of our events and has made her wonderful art gallery available for a number of our performances.
The support of our audiences, donors and sponsors enables us to undertake a huge range of activities and meet our strategic goals. In particular, the Perron Foundation and Hawaiian Group support our schools program. At short notice The McCusker Charitable Foundation supported
our major opera in August of this year. A number of our projects rely on Government support and I wish to thank the DLGSC for its ongoing interest, and particularly for supporting Angels and Devils.
Thank you everyone for your support - we look forward to further success in the coming year.
Gilbert George Chairman December 2022
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
2022 has been another wonderful year for FFO with our biggest production to date, La Fanciulla del West. Not to mention great reviews, three awards in the WA Performing Arts Awards for Angels & Devils, a new schools’ tour of Hansel & Gretel that delighted thousands of children, a stunning Valkyries, Valhalla & Verismo concert in the Holmes á Court Gallery, La Bohème at the Quarry with the addition of live-streaming and Caitlin Cassidy’s sublime French songs, and opera truck gigs.
Thanks to Lachie Higgins, the 2022 Rogers & Thick award recipient. He’s had a fantastic year with FFO and debuted two roles - Schaunard in La Bohème and Bello in La Fanciulla del West. We are excited to hand over the baton tonight to the 2023 award recipient - Benjamin del Borello.
Special thanks Ruth Burke who stepped into the role of Hansel during our schools’ tour with a day’s notice and saved the tour!
My tremendous thanks to music director Tommaso Pollio whose musical genius makes everything possible, and to resident lighting designer, Jerry Reinhardt for lighting up our lives!
I am proud of FFO’s prolific offerings over the year and the amount of income generated for Perth artists. I am also proud of the quality of work and the number of artists that were involved in its creation. It was all done during the time of COVID and I thank the board and our donors in forging ahead and supporting FFO and its artists in a time of uncertainty.
I am really grateful to the FFO board and our patron, Janet Holmes á Court, for their continued advocacy on behalf of FFO. Thanks for volunteering your valuable time to support. Special thanks to General Manager, Adele Williamson.
The year ahead promises much excitement with the possibility of embarking on regional touring, the continuation of our successful and developing schools’ program, another new, locally made production of our main opera, a unique Handel experience with Sara Macliver in the Liberty Theatre, and an opportunity to collaborate with WAYV.
Harriet Marshall FFO Founder & Artistic Director
FFO QUARRY TEAM
Artists
Teddy Tahu Rhodes
Rachelle Dzurkin
Harriet Marshall
Jun Zhang
Caitlin Cassidy
Lachlan Higgins
Luci Young
Director - Matt James Reuben Ward
Musical Director - Joe Louis Robinson
Lighting Design - Jerry Reinhardt
Sound - Icon AV
Stage & Production Manager -
Stephen Carr
Musicians
Keyboard - Joe Louis Robinson
Bass - Joe Southwell
Cello - Sophie Curtis
General Manager - Adele Williamson
FOH Manager - Jess Cullity
Video and Photography - Nik Babic
Graphic Design - George Bayly
Volunteers - Jillian Halleron
Joe O’Shannessy
Boox Kid - Pre-show entertainment
Nessun Dorma – Turandot (Puccini)
Sympatique – Pink Martini
Largo al Factotum – The Barber of Seville (Rossini)
Bella Figlia Dell’amore – Rigoletto (Verdi)
Casta Diva – Norma (Bellini)
Au Fond du Temple Saint - The Pearl Fishers (Bizet)
Tornami a Vagheggiar - Alcina (Handel)
Mon Coeur S’ouvre à ta Voix - Samson and Delilah (Saint-Saëns)
La Danza - Rossini
Interval
It Don’t Mean a Thing - Duke Ellington
Medley - Judy Garland
Fly me to the Moon - Howard
If I Loved You - Carousel (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
Dôme épais - Lakmé (Delibes)
I Never do Anything Twice - Sondheim
Stars - Les Misérables (Schönberg)
Do You Hear the People Sing - Les Misérables (Schönberg)
La Vie en Rose - Louiguy / Non, Je ne regrette rien - Dumont
Delilah - Reed
Our upcoming program:
March
• An intimate evening with Australia’s darling diva, the divine Sara Macliver at the Liberty Theatre 24 - 25 March 2023
May/June
• Rapunzel mothers’ day performances at Alexandra Hall, St Luke’s Mosman Park - 7 May 2023
• Rapunzel schools’ tour from 8 May 2023 to 2 June 2023
August/September
• Adriana Lecouvreur 31 August 2023 – 3 September 2023, Fremantle Town Hall
November
• The Little Prince, collaboration with WAYV, Fremantle Town Hall, 24-26
December
• Christmas at the Quarry 14 – 17 December 2023
November
Our Supporters
Your generosity makes magic
Principal Partner
The McCusker Charitable Foundation
Government Partner
The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
Sustainability Partner
ABEC
Audit Partner
Stantons
Education Partners
The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, The Hawaiian Group, John McKay & Claire Brittain, Mary Townsend
Principal Artist Sponsors
Janet Holmes à Court AC, Randal & Monique Humich, Chris & Christine Lawson-Smith, Linda & John Bond, Margaret Marston, Paula Rogers & Phil Thick, Lorraine Copley, Bedley Holdings, Sadashige Toyama, Ben Elton, Gilbert George
Young Artist Sponsors
Meg O’Neill & Vicky Hayes, Warwick Hemsley AO, Katie Hill & Tim Threlfall, Graham Droppert & Kathryn Hogan, Marco D’Orsogna & Terry Scott, Gordon & Bev Martin, Mary-Alice Paton, Peter & Lesley Davies, Pennie Hall, Liz Perrott, Peter Harley, Peter & Maizan Ahern, Sophie & Paul Chamberlain, Gaysie Atkinson
Production Donors
Allison Fyfe, Annie & Neil Patrick, Bourby Webster & Gaetan Schurrer, Carissa Dyall, Deborah Attard-Portughes, Ian & Jen Marshall, Jane & Jock Morrison, Jennifer Nicol, Jill Anderson, Judy McGuinness, Leah Royle, Margaret Stockton, Linda Savage, Liz & John Mair, Lynne Hunt, Nicola & David Cusworth, Peter & Jo Randell, Rick Camins, Shirley Egan, Steven Heath, David Cruse, Susan Bogle, Susan Gillett, Tessa La Mela, Yarra Korczynskyj, Anne Nolan, Clare & Doug Kerr, Diana Warnock OAM, Norah Kalnejais, Paige Sullivan, Kate Chaney
FFO Board & Patron
Janet Holmes à Court AC (Patron), Gilbert George (Chair), Sara van den Hoogen (Secretary), Kerrie-Anne King (Treasurer), Deborah Attard-Portughes, Mary-Alice Paton, Sara Macliver, Laurie Shervington, Harriet Marshall
Click here to contribute
Enriching lives through opera
Your donation will help us to:
• Expand our Schools and Regional Touring programs
• Present innovative operas and concerts that engage new and existing audiences
• Provide local and regional opportunities for our singers and creative artists –both emerging and established
Ways to Give
All donations make a difference. Talk to us if you have a specific opportunity or corporate aim you would like to pursue through the magic of music. We can accommodate larger or project based involvement aligned with the presentation of beautiful music by amazing artists.
Young artist awards 2023
Ben Del Borello -
2023 Rogers & Thick award
Benjamin Del Borrello graduated from WAAPA in 2022. At WAAPA he played “John Styx”, Orpheus in the Underworld, “Sergeant of Police”, The Pirates of Penzance and “Peter” in Hansel and Gretel. Benjamin is extremely grateful to be the recipient of the 2023 Rogers & Thick Award and is delighted to be taking on the role of “Figaro” in Rapunzel with FFO.
Lachlan Higgins2022 Rogers & Thick award
Lachlan Higgins is one of Freeze Frame Opera’s Young Artists and the 2022 recipient of the Rogers and Thick Award. This year with FFO, he has been heavily involved in the Street Serenades as well as playing the roles of Schaunard in La Bohème and Bello in La Fanciulla del West.
Sophia Wasley2023 Rising Star
In 2018 W.A.A.P.A graduate, Sophia Wasley played the role of Yniold in the Victorian Opera’s production of ‘Pelleas et Melisande’ and in 2019, the role of Fredrika Armfeldt in V.O’s production of ‘A Little Night Music’. Next year she’ll be playing the role of Little Red Riding Hood, in the West Australian Opera’s production of ‘Into The Woods’
Ruth Burke2023 Rising Star
Ruth Burke is an Irish-Australian Mezzo-soprano who recently graduated from WAAPA. Highlights so far have included playing “La Ciesca” and “La Zelatrice” (Angels and Devils) for FFO and “Hansel”, (Hansel and Gretel) for both WAAPA and FFO. In 2022 Ruth will be playing the role of “Rapunzel” (Rosina), in the FFO schools tour of Rapunzel.
Our Sponsors
