Quick Facts – Melbourne, Cheremushki

What is the plot of the opera?

Moscow, Cheryomushki is an operetta by Dmitri Shostakovich which was first performed in 1958. The plot revolves around the experiences of several families who are trying to find housing in a new housing development on the outskirts of Moscow. The operetta portrays the humorous and sometimes chaotic side of Soviet life and highlights the difficulties faced by the working class in obtaining adequate housing. Through the experiences of the characters, the operetta touches on themes of bureaucracy, corruption, and the challenges of everyday life in the Soviet Union.

This production will be updated and reimagined for contemporary Melbourne.

Who are the main characters, and who are they played by?

Alexander Petrovich Bubentsov (Sasha) Matan Franco
Masha Syrah Torii
Semyon Semyonovich Baburov Eamon Dooley
Lidochka Teresa Ingrilli
Boris Borya Koretsky Douglas Kelly
Sergey Seryozha Glushkov Michael Dimovski
Lyusya (Lucy) Leah Phillips
Fyodor Mikhailovich Fedya Drebednyov Alastair Cooper-Golec
Vava Amanda Windred
Afanasi Ivanovich Barabashkin Nicholas Beecher

Featuring Victorian Opera Emerging Artists

What can I expect from this opera?

Wild, jazzy and rambunctious music with a zany and hilarious plot that tells the story of these poor residents of Melbourne, Cheremushki.