While the performance gets underway at 4pm, there will be pre-opera entertainment from 1.30pm by local musicians with special guest, actor and singer Ben Mingay.  

Ben is an actor, musician and musical theatre performer who began as a rocker from Newcastle, dividing his time between the construction site and the conservatorium of music. 

Ben is no stranger to the region having attended The Armidale School. And he still has family connections in the area.  

“He is a fabulous performer with many theatre credits to his name including the lead role of Tommy Devito in the very successful musical Jersey Boys and the role of Billy in Dirty Dancing in the West End and on Broadway as well as several other tours,” said Walcha Visitor Information officer Lisa Kirton.  

“And I’m not just saying that because he is my brother! Ben has also appeared on our screens in popular TV programs including Packed to the Rafters, Wonderland and most recently the award winning film, Hacksaw Ridge.”

Other musical theatre credits include HAIR and South Pacific and opera credits include The Pirates of Penzance, The Magic Flute, The Mikado and Don Giovanni.

At 4pm prepare to be swept away by Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, which was first performed in 1879 and was based very closely on Pushkin's novel in verse of the same title.  

“Co-Opera’s version of the opera is packed full of glorious melodies, lush orchestration, rich costumes, dances and a gripping story,” Ms Kirton said. 

The production is sung largely in English but has select pieces in the original Russian. Many audio recordings and screen versions of the opera have been made and Puskin’s novel has been translated to stage and screen many times with the most recent movie being an English adaptation starring Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler.

Eugene Onegin will will run for approximately two hours and 20 minutes with a 20-minute interval. 

It is an outdoor picnic event (BYO food, drinks and seating). Gates open at 1pm. 

A pre-booked High Tea will also be available in Langford prior to the opera.

For further information go to www.walchansw.com.au/whats-on. To purchase tickets visit www.trybooking.com/NPNA.