Meditation is a powerful force. O used it for liberation, until their peaceful passing. Their lover E is led astray by power and seeks to bring O back from the dead. They manage—but do not recognise O in their new body, so seek to become Death themself. Death is just doing her job. Until She isn’t.

O,D,E is a new experimental opera by Sage J Harlow (aka Sage Pbbbt). A queer, occult retelling of Orpheus & Eurydice, grounded in the suffering that comes with simply being alive. Exploring gender and identity, characters change bodies, enter contracts with eternity and howl through the libretto as they do so. 

Underpinned by live music from an ensemble of noisemakers who bring a new meaning to “pit band”, O,D,E fuses the grandeur of opera with lo-fi, weirdo improv and metal aesthetics.

O,D,E was performed at The Blue Room Theatre Aug 26 – Sep 6, 2025

download the program – download the libretto – download the score

Producer: Josten Myburgh

Dramaturg: Jeremy Neideck

Vocalists: Michael Banting, Lara Dorling, Tiffany Ha, Charis Postmus

Musicians: Eduardo Cossio, Craig Pedersen, Jane Stark, Michael Terren, Naoko Uemoto, Saskia Willinge

Costumes: Tia Tokić (Bosa)

Awards

PAWA Awards ‘Outstanding Contemporary or Experimental Performance’
PAWA Awards ‘Outstanding Ensemble’
PAWA Awards ‘Outstanding Performer in Leading Role: Charis Postmus’
The Blue Room Theatre Awards ‘Outstanding Production’

Reviews

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