About

Little Edward is captivated for a sublime moment by the magic of a travelling carnival. The real world forever after seems to disappoint him. As an adult, he escapes into his enchanting imaginary ‘Gromboolian Plain’, populated by beings with luminous noses, hysterical ears and impossible adventures.

This world premiere family opera celebrates the life and work of Edward Lear (1812 – 1888). Best remembered for his lyrical, romantic whimsy ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’, Lear actually hoped the world might love him better for his serious landscape paintings.

Ode to Nonsense sails cheeriously along with runcible spoons, fizzgigious fish and gosky patties, and delves into Lear’s inner conflicts. On his return from exotic travels with manservant Giorgio, Lear is reunited with his lifelong, unconfessed love Gussie.

Performed in a lushly-designed ’Gromboolian Plain’ by three principals, a children’s chorus, acrobats and a chamber orchestra.

Behind the scenes highlights

Meet the creative team

Andy Packer

CEO & Artistic Director

Andy is an award-winning director of theatre, music theatre and opera.

Andy is an award-winning director of theatre, music theatre and opera. He has also worked as creative producer of multidisciplinary arts programs, creative director of large-scale events and festival director. In 2007 Andy co-founded Adelaide based theatre company Slingsby. The company is now well-established as a leading international immersive theatre company, having toured to more than 170 venues, with over 1,000 performances across 13 countries and counting.

Andy is renowned for creating original live performance moments that are emotionally powerful and visually bold. His work across theatre for young audiences, opera, cabaret, music theatre and symphonic concerts has pushed him to develop a distinctive theatrical aesthetic that is at once personal and epic.

Andy has directed productions and events for Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, State Opera of South Australia, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Adelaide Festival of Arts, Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Chamber Singers, Australian String Quartet, Windmill Theatre, Restless Dance, Tutti Ensemble, Rundle Mall Management Authority and the International Astronautical Federation. In 2019 Andy was Show Director for the World of Wearable Art Awards Show in Wellington, New Zealand.

Geoff Cobham

Artstic Associate - Lighting

Geoff has worked as an Event Producer, Production Manager, Lighting Designer, Set Designer, Public Artist and Venue Designer. His work has ranged from many smaller innovative productions to large scale theatre/dance productions, festivals, art exhibitions, events, museums and venue creation.

Geoff has worked as an Event Producer, Production Manager, Lighting Designer, Set Designer, Public Artist and Venue Designer. His work has ranged from many smaller innovative productions at the Performance Space, Queens Theatre, Belvoir, Red Shed, non-theatre venues (tents, warehouses and more) to large-scale theatre/dance productions, festivals, art exhibitions, events, museums and venue creation. His love of light and dance has led him to work with many of Australia’s top choreographers and allowed him to explore the endless combinations of colour, angle, intensity, and movement, of light. With his company Bluebottle he has designed many lighting installations and lit public artworks, buildings, landscapes and freeways. Geoff received a Churchill Fellowship in 2010 to study Outdoor Theatre in Europe. This led to the creation of Barrio, inspired by the “participatory theatre” movement currently sweeping Europe. Finding innovative ways to involve community and other industry in Events was at the heart of Barrio. Its success was in the unique way it gave its audience ownership of the event. Geoff has been working on Festivals since the late 80s when he began working for Sydney Festival. He subsequently went on to become an integral part of the senior management teams of the Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival and Womadelaide Festival. Recent Awards include: 2015 Helpmann Award for Best Scenic Design for Little Bird; Ruby Award for Sustained Contribution; Green Room Award Best lighting Design for Night Letters; Sydney Theatre Award Best Lighting Design for Never Did Me Any Harm. Geoff is Slingsby’s Artistic Associate (Design).

Production Credits

  • Composer Quincy Grant
  • Director/ Scenario Andy Packer
  • Librettist Jane Goldney
  • Musical Director Timothy Sexton
  • Set and Lighting Designer Geoff Cobham
  • Costume Designer Ailsa Paterson
  • Projection Design Cindi Drennan
  • Images Andy Ellis
  • Executive Producer Jodi Glass
  • Cast Nicholas Lester Gussie
  • Cast Johanna Allen Giorgio
  • Cast Adam Goodburn

Production Credits

What people are saying

““…for a touching account of what happens to the human mind when pure nonsense takes over, Ode to Nonsense ploughs new ground.” “…it recounts with utmost charm and humanity the life story of Edward Lear..." “It is poignantly beautiful.” “Ode to Nonsense is curiously but wonderfully elating, conveying a message that nonsense is no bad thing.” ” Graham Strahle, The Australian, 30 April 2013

“”

“"...simply not like anything else." "Slingsby may pop a feather in the cap for the scale and originality of this work." ”

Samela Harris, The Barefoot Review, 26 April 2013

Educational Resources