
Principal Artist Jill Ogai
Photo Simon Eeles
Johan Inger’s award-winning production of Carmen is an exhilarating journey that thrusts Georges Bizet’s 19th-century opera into the modern world with a breathtaking display of athleticism and passion.
20 – 25 June 2025
Carmen contains adult themes and is recommended for audiences 16+
1 hour and 44 minutes / 1 Interval
Principal Artist Jill Ogai
Photo Simon Eeles
Principal Artists Jill Ogai and Marcus Morelli
Photo Simon Eeles
Johan Inger’s award-winning production of Carmen is an exhilarating journey that thrusts Georges Bizet’s 19th-century opera into the modern world with a breathtaking display of athleticism and passion.
Created in 2015, Inger’s contemporary retelling of Prosper Mérimée’s 1845 novella is a darkly compelling story of the dangerously seductive Carmen, whose love affair with Don José ends in brutal tragedy. Broadening its gaze beyond its fiery heroine, Inger’s Carmen is seen through the eyes of a boy bewildered by the ugly manifestations of machismo.
Using Georges Bizet's famous score, Inger has reimagined the classic opera, transporting it to dance in a fascinating production. Including sublime passages for soloists and duos and ensemble sequences of consummate virtuosity, Carmen brings you the heat of southern Spain in a powerfully unique production.
"Johan's vision for this famous story is really unique. What I love is the reality of the emotions, and the grit of the movement. This is a Carmen for today's time.”
Carmen contains mature adult themes including sexual content and depictions of violence, that some people may find disturbing.
Carmen contains use of theatrical weapons.
Select the location to view synopsis and cast sheets
Principal Artist Jill Ogai
Photo Simon Eeles
Principal Artist Jill Ogai
Photo Simon Eeles
Principal Artist Jill Ogai and Artists of The Australian Ballet, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Daniel Boud
Lilla Harvey, Belle Urwin and Artists of The Australian Ballet, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Daniel Boud
Principal Artist Marcus Morelli with Lilla Harvey and Artists of The Australian Ballet, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Daniel Boud
Principal Artist Marcus Morelli, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Daniel Boud
Principal Artist Jill Ogai and Artists of The Australian Ballet, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Brodie James
Principal Artists Jill Ogai and Callum Linnane, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Daniel Boud
Principal Artist Jill Ogai and Artists of The Australian Ballet, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Daniel Boud
Lilla Harvey, Belle Urwin and Artists of The Australian Ballet, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Daniel Boud
Principal Artist Marcus Morelli with Lilla Harvey and Artists of The Australian Ballet, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Daniel Boud
Principal Artist Marcus Morelli, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Daniel Boud
Principal Artist Jill Ogai and Artists of The Australian Ballet, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Brodie James
Principal Artists Jill Ogai and Callum Linnane, Carmen (Inger) 2024
Photo Daniel Boud
1938 edition of Prosper Mérimée's Carmen
How choreographer Johan Inger adapted the famous story for the ballet stage.
Principal Artist Jill Ogai
Photo Simon Eeles
Principal Artist Jill Ogai on developing her version of the fierce and fiery character.
Choreography Johan Inger
Assistant choreographers Toby Mallitt, Javier Rodríguez Cobos and Urtzi Aranburu
Dramaturg Gregor Acuña-Pohl
Music Rodion Shchedrin, after Georges Bizet, "Carmen Suite"
Georges Bizet, orchestrated by Álvaro Domínguez Vázquez, "Overture" and "Danse Bohème"
Additional original music Marc Álvarez
These performances of “Carmen Suite” by Georges Bizet (arranged by Rodion Shchredrin) are given by arrangement with Origin Theatrical Pty Ltd, exclusive agents Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd of London
Lighting design Tom Visser
Lighting reproduced in 2025 by Doef Beernink and Tom Willis
Set design Curt Allen Wilmer and Leticia Gañán (aapee) with Estudio DeDos
Costume design David Delfín
Costume design associate Maria Luisa Ramos
Intimacy Coordinator Amy Cater
World première 9 April 2015, Teatro de la Zarzuela, Madrid, Spain, Compaňia Nacional de Danza Madrid
Melbourne
With Orchestra Victoria
Canberra
With Canberra Symphony Orchestra
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