One of the world’s most famous and beloved operas, La Bohème, will grace the Canberra Theatre Centre stage later this year from 17 to 19 July.

Considered to be one of renowned composer Giacomo Puccini’s most iconic works, this new production is brought to life by one of the world’s most celebrated performing arts companies, Opera Australia.

The Puccini classic has served as the inspiration for a number of other much-loved works throughout popular culture, including RENT The Musical and Moulin Rouge! The Musical. It is also heavily referenced throughout the Oscar-winning 1980s romantic comedy Moonstruck starring Cher and Nicolas Cage.

A brilliant cast of singers and musicians breathe fresh life into the treasured opera as you experience the romance of the original bohemian love story.

Some emotions are too big for words alone, and for that, we have music. La Bohème exposes your soul to the feelings that only music can express. The music soars with the ecstasy of love, crackles with the pain of jealousy and cries with the agony of loss.

Award-winning director Dean Bryant (Anything Goes, Sweet Charity) brings his trademark wit and vivacity to this new staging, capturing that giddy moment where you and your friends feel like you’ll live forever.

By the time this emotional opera finishes, you’ll know the answer to an eternal question: is love enough?

Canberra Theatre Centre director Alex Budd said he was thrilled for the venue to have the opportunity to work with Opera Australia to bring the national touring production of La Bohème to Canberra audiences.

“Dean Bryant’s treatment of one of the world’s greatest operatic love stories is sure to touch the hearts of all who attend,” Mr Budd said.

What is the La Bohème story?

On a freezing Christmas Eve, love sparks. Two hands meet in the dark and four friends’ lives change forever.

When Mimì meets Rodolfo, it’s love at first touch. They head out to bustling Café Momus, where the feisty Musetta and Marcello rekindle their relationship. But even the deepest love can’t warm a freezing winter.

For our bohemians, everything is possible, and the future can’t come quickly enough.

Rodolfo and his friends are determined to make their mark on the world and experience everything it has to offer – but right now they’d settle for something warm to eat.

Puccini’s score has always captured the soaring spirit of young love, and this new production breathes fresh life into one of the world’s favourite operas.

Your first opera experience? No problem

Cast member and award-winning Australian soprano Cathy-Di Zhang said La Bohème is a great first introduction to anyone who hasn’t been to the opera before.

“I think because we’re going to bring the full Sydney Opera House experience to Canberra with the full set, costumes, children’s chorus and orchestra, it will be quite the experience, especially for those who haven’t been to the opera before,” Zhang said.

“There are so many recognisable tunes you didn’t know were from La Bohème that may have been in movies and television ads.

“It’s one of the top five operas of all time. It’s a good first-time opera experience.”

Zhang said the 13 cast members would be joined on stage by a different regional children’s chorus at each performance, with a local choir accompanying them in Canberra. The production will also feature an orchestra, with the cast singing live and unamplified on stage.

Zhang said the show would be performed with the original Italian dialogue with opera surtitles in English (the text is above the stage, rather than below).

She said the show was a relevant story now following the lives of two struggling artists – bohemians – dealing with all things in life: heartbreak, love, loss and, in the end, death.

“They’re dealing with it as friends living as impoverished artists, that typical bohemian life,” Zhang said.

“It’s a tragic love story that everyone can relate to.”

She said while the music remains the same, the time period of the show shifts from 1830s Paris to the 1970s – with the fashion and costume designing reflecting this.

Show details

La Bohème will run at Canberra Theatre Centre from Thursday 17 July to Saturday 19 July at 7:30pm.

Tickets can be booked online at canberratheatrecentre.com.au or by calling the box office on (02) 6275 2700. For more information, visit canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/la-boheme-2025

Testimonials

“One of the best-loved operas of all time.” – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Age

“Energy, emotion and detail abound”, Australian Arts Review

“A talented cast that delivers impeccably emotive performances”, The Fourth Wall Reviews