Mansfield Park

“Performed in elegant period costume and there is fine ensemble work throughout. Vocally it was magnificent... Dove’s quite difficult score is very contemporary in style, quite often sharp and spiky and was given a tremendous performance by the two pianists (Nathaniel Kong and Geena Cheung) who played with zest and enthusiasm.”

Lynne Lancaster, Arts Hub
“The music was well integrated into the story with some wonderful ensemble singing throughout the piece. The action did not flag and the audience was glued to its seats throughout!”

Toni Adams, Sydney Arts Guide

Australian Premiere
Performed at the Independent Theatre, April 2016

Jonathan Dove | Libretto by Alisdair Middleton

Mansfield Park (2011)

Synopsis

Jane Austen’s beloved novel finds fresh life on stage in the Australian premiere of Jonathan Dove’s elegant and witty chamber opera Mansfield Park, a sparkling adaptation that brings Regency England’s drawing rooms, drama, and delicate romances to vivid musical life.

Fanny Price, a shy and morally grounded young woman of modest means, lives with her wealthy relatives at Mansfield Park as their “poor relation”. Amid the grandeur of country estates and the strict codes of class and decorum, Fanny quietly observes the intrigues and ambitions of those around her, particularly the arrival of the charismatic Crawfords, whose charm throws the household into disarray.

As flirtations blossom and masks begin to slip, Fanny’s steady gaze and quiet strength reveal a world where true integrity is rare and love must navigate the treacherous waters of vanity, ambition, and self-deception.

Dove’s richly lyrical score captures both the elegance and undercurrents of Austen’s world, blending sharp social commentary with genuine emotional depth. With its intimate scale and vibrant ensemble cast, Mansfield Park is a delightful tribute to one of literature’s most enduring heroines and a compelling reminder that doing what is right is not always what is easy.

Production Team

Conductor — Keiren Brandt-Sawdy
Director — Joseph Restubog
Producer — Katie Miller-Crispe
Assistant Director — Paul Chegwidden
Piano — Nathaniel Kong & Geena Cheung
Set Design — Emily Stuart-Jones & Ian Warwick
Costumes — Ian Warwick & Victoria Parsons
Production Photography — John Kilkeary
Cover (Fanny Price) — Olivia Oxley

Cast

Fanny Price — Sonya Holowell
Lady Bertram — Jermaine Chau
Sir Thomas Bertram — Ian Warwick
Maria Bertram — Katie Miller-Crispe
Julia Bertram — Amy Balales
Edmund Bertram — Tristan Entwistle
Aunt Norris — Jessica Harper
Mary Crawford — Samanta Lestavel
Henry Crawford — Daniel Folesi
Mr Rushworth — Spencer Darby

With Thanks To …

The Australian Institute of Music, Rockdale Opera

Joelene Griffith, Susan Heming, Fenella Jolly, Venke Mannes, Kiara Parks, Paulo Montoya, Yvonne Barton-Leach, Geoff Sirmai, Peter John Augenti, Pamela Andrews, John Miller-Crispe, John Kilkeary, Jared Miller-Crispe, Jo Miller-Crispe