Following sold-out runs at the Sydney Opera House, Reuben Kaye’s wildly outrageous queer inspired spectacle Opera Up Late is making its keenly anticipated Melbourne debut for one fabulous nightly only on Sunday 2 November at the Regent Theatre.
The brainchild of Reuben Kaye, Melbourne born, international comedy and cabaret icon, and award winning director, Shaun Rennie, Opera Up Late was originally conceived for World Pride in 2023 as a late-night special. It’s risquè blend of opera, comedy and cabaret defies all genre expectations and leaves audiences in stitches.
Having hosted the saucy soiree earlier this year in the Joan Sutherland Theatre, the irrepressible self proclaimed opera lover is thrilled to be bringing the show to his hometown.
“Opera Up Late is unlike any opera you’ve ever seen. Equal parts hilarious, sexy, ridiculous, filthy and very queer, it’s Saturday Night Live meets opera! I’m amazed that Opera Australia have given me the reigns and let us loose!” said Kaye.
“I’m stoked that we now have the opportunity to bring it to my hometown Melbourne, one of the world’s great comedy destinations. For one night only, we get to turn the beloved opera genre on its head to give the audience a show they’ve never seen before or expected from Opera Australia.”
Joining Kaye on stage will be a star-studded line-up of Opera Australia performers including the highly adored, multi award-winning soprano Emma Matthews. Together, they’ll lend their voices to this bold and hilarious ride through the world of opera that promises to deliver high octaves and huge laughs.
Opera Up Late packs a punch of queer romance, clever comedy and high drama with loud costumes and wigs that is both the perfect launch pad for newbies to pop their opera cherries and the aficionados to celebrate this homage to some of the canon’s most iconic arias.
Kicking off at 9:00pm, the revelry will feature an entertaining repertoire of re-imagined opera hits, musical theatre classics and a hearty dose of pop numbers.
Opera Up Late
Regent Theatre, Collins Street, Melbourne
Performance: Sunday 2 November 2025 – 9.00pm
Information and Bookings: www.opera.org.au
Image: Reuben Kaye in Opera Australia’s 2023 production of WorldPride: Opera Up Late at the Sydney Opera House – photo by Rhiannon Hopley