The Bone Feeder

Abstract

The Bone Feeder is a new opera, beautifully and imaginatively scored by Gareth Farr and written by poet and playwright Renee Liang, that explores the mysteries, traumas and gifts of migration, home and belonging. A young New Zealand Chinese man searching for his roots is guided by a magical cicada and Māori Ferryman. He crosses to 'the other side', where ghosts reveal secrets of love, loss and betrayal. His attempt to uncover his ancestor's bones disturbs the earth and ultimately, threatens his life. Directed by Sara Brodie, the opera takes Gareth Farr’s unique combination of Western, Māori and Chinese instruments to create a sweeping, beautiful and playful piece of music sung in English, Māori and Cantonese. The Bone Feeder is inspired by the story of the SS Ventnor, a lost part of NZ's history. It’s grounded in the experiences of early Chinese settlers and their interactions with Pākehā and Māori.