Opera’s Bad Girl: Anna Bishop, The World’s First Daringly Defiant Diva by Sarah Louise Owens

Before Madonna, there was Anna Bishop. A daring contemporary of Queen Victoria, this original diva shattered expectations and redefined independence when she left her famous composer husband to forge her own artistic path. Bravely defying social norms of the time, and forced to leave her beloved children behind, she toured the globe with her genius harpist lover, surviving shipwrecks, tiger attacks, and pandemics, and inadvertently inspiring women everywhere to live boldly. Renowned Canberran opera singer Sarahlouise Owens brings Anna’s extraordinary journey to life through arias of the era, such as Home Sweet Home, Lucia Mad Scene and The Last Rose of Summer..

The show is designed for all audiences, where the young can learn of the musical tastes of their ancestors, and the older generations may enjoy the music of their childhood. The music is framed within the exciting true life story of a fearless woman who trailblazed a singing career, at a time women were denied a career and when international travel was only possible by ship and carriage.

This is a story begging to be told about empowerment of women in times where the patriarchy was dominant, despite being the time of a ruling Queen. The telling of this story is important due to its historical significance aligning with our colonial history, as well as the story of an early chapter of the Suffragist Movement and of a fearless woman who, among others, would not be restricted by social mores.

Educating and entertaining, this story is fascinating as well as inspirational. Anna is an ideal role model for our young women, or indeed anyone, demonstrating that risk can pay off.

Singer/Actor and pianist perform the music that made Anna’s fame, and the songs that she made a staple of household parlours. The music though old, is revealed, revived and invigorated in this interpretation.