Robin Hyde – who was born Iris Wilkinson – was one of the greatest poets in New Zealand. But her eventful life, which took her to war-torn China and to London on the brink of World War Two, was rocked by trauma and crisis.

Now her extraordinary story comes to life in a powerful new work from world-famous composer Dame Gillian Whitehead and the celebrated poet Fleur Adcock.

Specially commissioned by soprano Joanne Roughton-Arnold, this one-woman chamber opera receives its world premiere production at Grimeborn 2016. Sarah Brodie, one of New Zealand’s leading directors and choreographers, teams up with young British conductor Jon Hargreaves and the sparkling virtuosi that make up the Octandre Ensemble.

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Grimeborn Codas

Iris: A 1984 New Zealand-made feature-length film dramatising the life of Iris Wilkinson
23/08/2016, post-show film 

Duration: 1hour 30mins
Director: Tony Isaac
Writer: Keith Aberdein
Producer: John Barnett, Tony Isaac
F7032 – IRIS (1984).
From material preserved and made available by Ngā Taonga
Sound & Vision courtesy of John Barnett

Iris’s Story: From Page to Stage
24/08/2016, post-show discussion

Join the creative team behind Iris Dreaming as they discuss the challenges and joys of bringing Iris’s story to life on the operatic stage.