Pacific Opera Victoria's Community Previews give students, educators, and community members the opportunity to attend a performance free of charge before opening night.
Wednesday
Oct 14, 2026
7:30pm
Venue Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton
Cost $15
Community Preview
These special presentations are the final dress rehearsal before opening night, featuring the full cast, orchestra, costumes, sets, and lighting. It’s a chance to experience the excitement of live opera in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Through our Ticket Access Program (TAP) and community partnerships, Pacific Opera Victoria is working to make opera more accessible and ensure that more people can experience the joy of live performance.
Ticket Access
Community Preview tickets are available for just $15 and are valid for the Community Preview performance only.
Looking to attend a regular performance? Through TAP, free tickets are available for all performances of Il trovatore through participating community organizations. Contact your community partner or visit our TAP page to learn more.
New to Opera?
Il trovatore is a great place to start.
Filled with unforgettable melodies, larger-than-life characters, and a story packed with love, rivalry, mystery, and revenge, Verdi’s Il trovatore is opera at its most thrilling. Its music includes some of the most famous choruses and arias ever written, while its fast-moving plot keeps audiences guessing right to the end.
If Game of Thrones had less politics, more music, and was completed in a single evening, it might look a little like Il trovatore. Family secrets, long-buried rivalries, and unexpected twists drive a story where every decision carries dramatic consequences.
You don’t need any prior opera experience to enjoy it. Like the best movies, novels, and television dramas, Il trovatore combines compelling storytelling with powerful performances, beautiful music, and spectacular stagecraft. Whether you’re attending your first opera or returning for another visit, it’s an unforgettable night at the theatre.
What’s the Difference Between a Community Preview and a Performance?
Not much!
A Community Preview is the final dress rehearsal before opening night, featuring the full cast, orchestra, costumes, sets, and lighting. While the artistic team may occasionally stop to make a final adjustment, most audience members experience the production just as they would during a regular performance.
For most attendees, a Community Preview feels very much like a regular performance while offering a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the final stages of bringing an opera to life.
Is there anything else I should know about coming to the opera?
You’ll be able to follow the story. English translations (called surtitles) are projected above the stage throughout the performance. There is also a plot synopsis on the Il trovatoremain page as well was programs in the theatre.
There’s no dress code. Come as you are and wear whatever makes you comfortable, so long as you are fully clothed and wearing shoes. As a courtesy to those who are sensitive to fragrances, we respectfully ask our patrons to refrain from wearing scented products.
It’s okay if you don’t understand everything. Let the music, voices, and storytelling carry you along.
Live performance is different every night. Part of the excitement is experiencing something that only happens once.
The opera is a welcoming space for everyone. Whether this is your first opera or your fiftieth, you’re in the right place.