Laughter and Tears

Laughter and Tears was a unique collaborative production presented by Victorian Opera in partnership with Circus Oz at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne in 2016. It combined opera and physical theatre by pairing a devised opening segment — drawing on commedia dell'arte and Italian song from the Renaissance and Baroque periods — with a performance of Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci in the second half. The evening was conceived under the direction of Emil Wolk, with music conducted by Richard Mills, and showcased a creative integration of operatic singing and circus-informed movement. Circus performers from Dislocate and Circus Oz brought acrobatic, aerial and physical comedy elements to life alongside Victorian Opera's singers, highlighting the shared theatrical roots of these genres and creating a production that was at once playful, dramatic and emotionally engaging.