Strong language

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Operas

Content warning: explicit language, sexual violence, sexual content, alcohol, blackout drinking

Hook Up tells the story of three friends who have made it to university, each with their own unique desires and inner conflicts. Mindy is just excited to keep her high school friend circle together and finally get some privacy with her boyfriend. T...

Composer: Chris Thornborrow

Librettist: Julie Tepperman

Sooner Than Later

Content warning: gun violence, strong language, terminal illness, attempted assisted suicide

A father and son argue in a dark alley. The father, sick with a tumour "the size of a fig" in his brain, begs his son to end his life. When the gun they're using fails and the son panics, the father offers comfort and encouragement in the form of a ...

Composer: Cecilia Livingston

Librettist: David Yee

Sophia’s Forest

Content warning: child neglect, death, migration, strong language, trauma, war

When Sophia’s mother dies, Sophia confronts half-forgotten traumas from her childhood. Sophia and her sister Emma grew up in a war torn country. The two young girls cope with and escape their grim circumstances – the adult world of war, death and displacement – thr...

Composer: Lembit Beecher

Librettist: Hannah Moscovitch

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Excerpts

Hook Up – Section 1, Scene 1: “Opening Montage Overture”

Cindy, Mindy, and Tyler revel in the newfound freedom of university life. Cindy delights in being single, Mindy says goodbye to her parents, and is excited for more privacy and time with Tyler... who is looking forward to playing more Fortnite.

Hook Up – Section 1, Scene 2: “The Rules of the Dorm”

Dorm RAs lay down the laws of drinking and sex, which are incredibly different for the boys vs. the girls.

Hook Up – Section 1, Scene 3: “Meet Up: The First Night”

Cindy is annoyed she’s not roommates with Mindy; the audience knows Mindy has secretly asked for her own room. Tyler wants to go a party, but Mindy convinces him to “Netflix and chill.”

Hook Up – Section 2, Scene 2: “Feminism 101: Gender, Justice & Change”

A kick-ass professor guides the girls through a "Feminism 101" presentation, while Cindy and Mindy’s relationship reaches a boiling point. Cindy judges Mindy’s homebody approach to university life; Mindy judges Cindy’s seemingly only interest in “hooking up” at parties.

Hook Up – Section 2, Scene 2A: “In the Hall”

Cindy and Mindy are kicked out of class for causing a disturbance. Mindy comes clean about having asked for a private room behind Cindy's back. The two reconcile and agree to hang out (without Tyler) that night.

Hook Up – Section 2, Scene 2B

Tyler lets the guys know he’s free for the night. They roast him, and head to the pub.

Hook Up – Section 2, Scene 3: “Girl’s Night” (duet)

Cindy tells Mindy about her empowering sexual explorations of late, and questions if Mindy is really ok with spending her life with just one person.

Hook Up – Section 2, Scene 4: “Texting Blitz”

A barrage of texts combined with singing let us know what Cindy, Mindy, and Tyler have been up to. Relationships grow more and more intense, culminating in Cindy telling Mindy she’s seen Tyler studying with a second year girl named Heather.

Hook Up – Section 2, Scene 5: “Time Out” (duet)

Mindy confronts Tyler about his “study partner” and accuses him of lying to her, which Tyler denies. Mindy makes a sudden decision: she wants a time-out, and thinks they should see other people. Tyler leaves, confused and devastated.

Hook Up – Section 3, Scene 1: “The Rules of the Hookup” (duet)

Cindy and Mindy get into constumes and pre-drink for the Halloween Kegger. Cindy teases Mindy for her lack of sexual adventurousness and gives her “the rules of the hook up” just in case...

Hook Up – Section 3, Scene 3: “The Party”

Cindy and Mindy eye potential hook-ups for Mindy. Tyler arrives with Heather. Mindy’s livid, and Cindy reminds her not to do anything crazy. Mindy’s response is to commit to the idea of hooking up with someone at the party.

Hook Up – Section 4, Scene 2: “Text Alerts”

Mindy plugs in her phone, which died at the party. It comes alive with a constant stream of texts from Tyler and Cindy from the night before, who were both worried about her. Mindy rushes to the bathroom to throw up.

Hook Up – Section 4, Scene 3: “Putting the Pieces Together”

Someone has posted pictures of Mindy at the party with different men. Mindy, Cindy, and Tyler argue about who is to blame. Cindy and Tyler depart angry, leaving Mindy sitting alone on her bed.