Sean McKernan Designs

04/04/2023

As part if the Perth Festival 2023 program it was a pleasure to light the West Australian Opera's staging of Carmen held at the WACA ground in February.

To finally be able to deliver this production to audiences after it was cancelled in 2022 due to Covid 19 was fantastic and to say it was well received by audiences would be an understatement.

Lighting and Video design by SMD.

Lighting and Video supplied by Showscreens

Staging and Structures supplied by Statewide Staging Systems

20/09/2022

Great to see my Avolites Sapphire Touch console out on tour with Hill Top Hoods at the moment.

Great work Pauly Owen!

01/08/2022

We’re excited to announce that (after being postponed) West Australian Opera's Carmen is back for 2023!
Coming to the iconic WACA Ground, don’t miss this spectacular opera coming 24 – 25 Feb. ✨

Tickets on sale 2pm, Mon 15 Aug. Join the waitlist to secure the best seats in the house! 👉 https://perthfe.st/carmen2023

If you purchased tickets earlier this year please check your email to get info about the pre-sale. 👀

08/03/2022

06/03/2022

Noongar Wonderland, Perth Festival 2022.
Amazing working with an amazing team.

Perth Festival.
Shona Treadgold
John Carter
Paul Digby
Mark Howett
Justin Twible
Showscreens
Statewide Staging Systems
Black & White Light

Avolites GLP - German Light Products

15/11/2021

Cant wait to bring this one to life next year .

West Australian Opera presents
CARMEN
In association with Perth Festival

Summer nights in Perth set the stage for searing passions in Spain, as Carmen takes over the iconic WACA - Western Australian Cricket Association Ground.

In an outdoor arena spectacular, Bizet's indisputable masterpiece is staged with all the trimmings, performed by over 150 singers and musicians. The historic cricket ground, the scene of many epic conflicts, plays host to the loves, betrayals, celebrations and tragedies of one of opera's greatest stories.

Australia's finest singers bring this powerful tale to life through legendary arias such as the Habanera and the Toreador's Song, with tremendous local talent from the West Australian Opera Chorus, the next generation of rising stars in the WAO Children's Chorus, and the full might of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are on sale from Monday 22 November 2021. Register to receive the booking link direct to your inbox and snap up the hottest seats of the summer!

7.30pm | Friday 25 & Saturday 26 February 2022

Register: https://bit.ly/RegisterCarmen
Learn: https://bit.ly/WAOCarmen

This season is supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund - an Australian Government Initiative

15/11/2021

17/05/2021

"Cast amid a pandemic, nurtured through a lock down and deprived at the last gasp of its advertised star, Elijah at Winthrop Hall triumphed over adversity just like its 3000-year-old inspiration." - David Cusworth, The West Australian

West Australian Opera's sold out season of Elijah with UWA Conservatorium of Music came to a triumphant close in a swell of ethereal sound and passion. Read about the devastating human emotion, dazzling setting and visions of paradise you can expect from this exquisite event.

It has been a pleasure to work with the team from West Australian Opera this last week delivering the amazing production of Elijah in the stunning Winthrop hall at UWA.

Amazing work by the whole team of Creatives and Production crew to deliver an immensely powerful and well received production.

Thanks especially to Mandy Farmer and her amazing WA Opera crew- Karen, Erryn, Jacinta & Rose and also to the University Theater's Crew - especially David, Matt and Steve .

Frontier Lighting supplied the Lighting system for me again and the GLP - German Light Products Impression X4 Bar 20's worked flawlessly in delivering the big biblical looks required by the production.

Frontier also supplied a heap of CHAUVET Professional Ovation 910FC full colour profiles with 15/30 zoom lenses and also the Colorado Q40 wash lights that delivered the punch and depth of colour tone in the venues arches that really added depth and perspective to the look of the production.

I also managed to sneak in a new GLP Streamer which functioned as a fantastic conductor fill light for conductor Christopher van Tuinen.

For control I chose my LX control weapon of choice at the moment an Avolites Arena console running Ver 15 Titan software.
The Arena handled this theatrical programming and show control with ease and I had a great time on it.

The highlight for most patrons was undoubtedly the illumination of the Rose Window, a stunning feature of Winthrop hall, this was surely one of the most photographed looks of the entire show due to its amazing impact. Two Martin Mac Vipers in a 90ft Boom provided the rear illumination of the window allowing for some amazing layered effects to be achieved.

14/05/2021

West Australian Opera is proud to bring you Elijah in association with the UWA Conservatorium of Music in the beautiful Winthrop Hall. Thank you to the Bendat Family Foundation who are presenting this work. It is a privilege to be on stage and we are so pleased to be back performing with you all.

Thanks everyone - Carolyn Chard AM, Executive Director

13/05/2021

WA Opera and UWA production of Elijah at Winthrop Hall.

Preview ahead of opening night tomorrow night.