Molly Johnson is a survivor. Heavily pregnant, she’s left alone to care for her children in a remote Snowy Mountains shanty.
Between the snakes, bullocks and hostile travellers on her doorstep, she faces no shortage of threats. With her husband away droving sheep, she faces them alone.
But when Yadaka, an Aboriginal man evading colonial authorities, disrupts Molly’s hard-won sanctuary, the pair’s shared history of brutal hardships can no longer be ignored.
The Drover’s Wife is a monumental new opera based on the play, novel and film by one of Australia’s leading artists, Leah Purcell. With a ravishing score by George Palmer, this new version reveals the symphonic soul of Purcell’s modern classic in its most expansive telling yet.
Melodies soar with raw emotion. Luscious orchestrations capture the beauty and violence of the Australian High Country. Grand opera traditions meet contemporary Aboriginal storytelling. Australia’s newest opera star Nina Korbe (West Side Story on Sydney Harbour) leads the cast as the titular drover’s wife in a role that will leave you breathless.
2 hr 30min. Inc. 1 interval.
7th August, 2026
15th August, 2026
Complete access information for all Sydney Opera House theatres may be found here
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in all theatres. To book accessible seating contact Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777
GETTING TO THE VENUE:
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The Sydney Opera House is a six-minute walk to Circular Quay which is regularly served by public buses, trains and ferries to Circular Quay.
BY BICYCLE: Bicycle parking is located beneath the Monumental Steps.
BY CAR: Wilson Parking owns and operates the public Sydney Opera House Car Park, which is located at 2 Macquarie Street (Northern end). The car park is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and has undercover access to the Sydney Opera House Lower Concourse.
Further information of getting to the Sydney Opera House can be found here.
Conductor: Tahu Matheson
Composer: George Palmer
Libretto by: Leah Purcell with George Palmer
Director: Leah Purcell AM
Choreographer: Yolande Brown
Set Designer: Isabel Hudson
Costume Designer: Tess Schofield
Lighting Designer: Karen Norris
Sound Designer: Michael Waters
Associate Director: Imara Savage
Producer: Bain Stewart for Oombarra Productions
CAST
Molly: Nina Korbe
Yadaka: Marcus Corowa
Black Mary: Shauntai Sherree Abdul-Rahman
Opera Australia Orchestra
The Drover's Wife runs for 2 hr 30min. Inc. 1 interval.
The Drover's Wife is at Sydney's Joan Sutherland Theatre | Sydney Opera House, which is located at Bennelong Point, Sydney, 2000.
The Drover's Wife tickets start at $94.
Check the top of this page for current availability and exclusive offers on The Drover's Wife tickets on TodayTix.