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Workshops Begin In Australia On WikiLeaks Opera

Posted by Soulskill on from the this-is-a-thing-people-are-doing dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "Betrayal, lust, secrecy, power: there's no shortage of dramatic intrigue in the story of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. Perhaps that's why work has begun on an opera based on the life of Julian Assange in Melbourne. Opera Australia held – with Julian Assange's approval – a series of in-house workshops last month after its artistic director, Lyndon Terracini, came up with the idea and asked composer Jonathan Dreyfus to write the music. 'It's got everything that a dramatic musical work needs,' says Eddie Perfect, who played Assange in the initial process. 'It's got heroes and villains. In fact, it's got a hero and villain combined in one.' The company has not yet committed to a full production, but if the opera goes ahead it will be the second time the WikiLeaks story has been presented on stage in Assange's native Australia. Stainless Steel Rat played at the Seymour Center in Sydney last June."

45 comments

  1. Wikilekas opera by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope they get it right - the shallow, peurile effort of Ron Elisha left much to be desired (my review here http://noh8er.tumblr.com/reviews )

  2. Already been done by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Rap News #5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXbCwq4ewBU

    Featuring both the real and fake Julian "Avenging As-angel" Assange.

  3. Sounds perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Since Julian loves to be center stage and has a flair for the dramatic, an opera sounds about right.

    I'm not going to talk about whether I agree or disagree with Wikileaks, but I hope people can agree that Julian himself is not the most humble of individuals.

    1. Re:Sounds perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Since Julian loves to be center stage and has a flair for the dramatic, an opera sounds about right.

      I'm not going to talk about whether I agree or disagree with Wikileaks, but I hope people can agree that Julian himself is not the most humble of individuals.

      Why can't you people judge the man by his actions and not his personality? I see this same shit whenever someone talks about Stallman. You aren't going to be friends with them and you don't have to deal with them ever, so it doesn't matter if they have "good" personalities, are narcissistic, are fun or whatever.

      Fuck you, please die.

    2. Re:Sounds perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For fuck sake, mod this comment up! It really is that simple.
      The parent creeped me out inviting me to his personal loathing fest.

    3. Re:Sounds perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Why can't you people judge the man by his actions and not his personality?

      I judge his actions in one arena and his personality in another.

      I don't see why the two have to mingle.

    4. Re:Sounds perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Exactly. One doesn't have to have too much bearing on the other. And being a narcissist or a rapist (whether or not one is one) shouldn't detract from the idea that the large scale misdeeds of governments and powerful corporations should be exposed. Reversely, being a knight in shining armor in the battle for truth and justice on a global scale doesn't mean you can't be a pain or even a rapist on a small personal scale.

    5. Re:Sounds perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Since Julian loves to be center stage and has a flair for the dramatic, an opera sounds about right.

      I'm not going to talk about whether I agree or disagree with Wikileaks, but I hope people can agree that Julian himself is not the most humble of individuals.

      Why can't you people judge the man by his actions and not his personality? I see this same shit whenever someone talks about Stallman. You aren't going to be friends with them and you don't have to deal with them ever, so it doesn't matter if they have "good" personalities, are narcissistic, are fun or whatever.

      Fuck you, please die.

      Julian isn't a media whore, the media are Julian Assange whores. They focus on him, he focusses on the war crimes his work exposes. Listen to him - he speaks very clearly and it's NOT about him at all.

    6. Re:Sounds perfect by cavreader · · Score: 1, Insightful

      His work has definitely exposed somes crimes but the question is which ones? I'm guessing Manning would have preferred a little less "crime" exposure. As far as his actions go why does it require millions of dollars to support the release the purloined data when he could have dumped the entire cache across the Internet for the cost of an Internet connection? And please don't say he gave a damn about any consequences for people included in the data because he didn't and doesn't. His colleagues at Wiki-leaks who raised this issue were either fired or quit the organization. Wiki-leaks certainly didn't pay for the information so why should anyone else have to pony up for access. His shakedown of the global media services doesn't really seem compatible with the picture of someone who just wants to set the truth free. Of course if Wiki-leaks did pay for any of the information upfront I imagine there might be some uncomfortable legal questions raised since prior knowledge could have been considered espionage which would have really created a shit storm where things like extradition and warrants become options.

    7. Re:Sounds perfect by icebike · · Score: 1

      Reversely, being a knight in shining armor in the battle for truth and justice on a global scale doesn't mean you can't be a pain or even a rapist on a small personal scale.

      Wise move, posting that as an AC.... (snort).

      Please explain how one is a rapist on a personal scale.

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    8. Re:Sounds perfect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's an Ad hominem argument designed not only to discredit Assange but distract you from the real issues, eg. the videos of US soldiers willfully slaughtering civilians.

    9. Re:Sounds perfect by Xest · · Score: 1

      Agreed, the focus on him is entirely media-driven and always has been.

  4. Nguv-be' Bas Boqrat by kanto · · Score: 5, Funny

    Like Shakespeare, this was better in the original klingon.

    1. Re:Nguv-be' Bas Boqrat by Ihmhi · · Score: 1

      ACT I: jIH ta'be' chenmoH muSHa' tlhej vetlh be'

      --
      Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
    2. Re:Nguv-be' Bas Boqrat by mayberry42 · · Score: 1

      Like Shakespeare, this was better in the original klingon.

      You joke, but I think it could make for an excellent movie thriller. Put Liam Neeson in it, add some conspiracy theories, women, and spy secrets and you have your next james bond/jason bourne character (except less action, more intrigue). As far as opera goes, though, we'll see. I was never a fan of the genre.

    3. Re:Nguv-be' Bas Boqrat by __declspec · · Score: 1

      ACT I: jIH ta'be' chenmoH muSHa' tlhej vetlh be'

      From Google Translate: "I didn't make love with that woman"

    4. Re:Nguv-be' Bas Boqrat by Ihmhi · · Score: 1

      (It was the closest I could find to "I did not have sex with that woman".)

      --
      Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
    5. Re:Nguv-be' Bas Boqrat by gstoddart · · Score: 1

      I should think the word you'd be looking for would be mate ... I doubt they'd use "make love" or "have sex".

      I leave tracking down the Klingon word to the guy who already posted in Klingon. ;-)

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  5. Is Opera still around by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I haven't used Opera for about 10 years, how does it compare to the latest Chrome, Chromium, and Firefox incarnations?

    1. Re:Is Opera still around by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      It is much louder. And much slower also, a page load ain't over till the fat lady sings.

    2. Re:Is Opera still around by Tyrannosaur · · Score: 1

      still better, don't worry. All those new things you think are cool in those browsers started here.

  6. Who Cares About Wikileaks by virb67 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This focus on Wikileaks is ridiculous. Why does information have to leaked by Wikileaks? It doesn't. What's so fucking special about this site? One can leak information anywhere on the web, including the established media, a personal blog, or even Slashdot. This idea that only Wikileaks' site can disseminate sensitive information is fucking retarded. I find this obsession whacky. Who really gives a fat rat's ass about this bullshit drama?

    1. Re:Who Cares About Wikileaks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This focus on Wikileaks is ridiculous. Why does information have to leaked by Wikileaks? It doesn't. What's so fucking special about this site? One can leak information anywhere on the web, including the established media, a personal blog, or even Slashdot. This idea that only Wikileaks' site can disseminate sensitive information is fucking retarded. I find this obsession whacky. Who really gives a fat rat's ass about this bullshit drama?

      Anyone who recognizes the monumental ramifications of having large corporations like Paypal and Visa cut off the ability for private individuals to give money to a purely grassroots private information revelation organization like Wikileaks cares pretty strongly about keeping a focus on Wikileaks, or rather, all the stuff around it. Why do you seem to have an exposed nerve about it?

    2. Re:Who Cares About Wikileaks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Everyone knows the site and what it is for. If you are looking for leaked info or have leaked info, then it is *the* place to go. Same thing for auctions. There are other auction sites besides eBay. Why don't more people use them?

    3. Re:Who Cares About Wikileaks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Because Wikileaks has proven to be able to market the information out to the news media in ways other sites haven't been able to replicate. It has also established itself with a reliable reputation. You clearly hate wikileaks for its success, for whatever reason.

  7. But still no Operation Mindcrime? by Aero77 · · Score: 0

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_mindcrime

  8. with Julian Assange's approval! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why'd you have to go and spill the beans in TFS? Otherwise we could have had a dozen threads started by folks who didn't RTFA speculating about Mr. Assange's lack of approval, and how that makes him a hypocrite/jerk/hero or whether the opera was in fact part of a nefarious plot by bankers/CIA/shite-berg (sp?) to discredit/distract/annoy him. But it's all ruined now.

  9. Workshops Begin In Australia On WikiLeaks Opera by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And Paul Hogan will play a judge in the Kangaroo Court.

  10. Oh, FFS ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do we really have to deify the guy? His ego isn't big enough for you?

  11. An Opera? I'll bring the soap! by kawabago · · Score: 1

    Laaaaaaaaaalala

  12. Improv Everywhere WikiLeaks Orchestration by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

    I would personally prefer an http://improveverywhere.com/ WikiLeaks Theater Orchestration. On one day, lots of folks all over the world get dressed up like cold war movie land spies: beige raincoat, sunglasses, a newspaper, and a briefcase full of play money. Then they follow officials leaving government buildings, and offer them the briefcase for a leak, insisting, "Julian sent me!"

    . . . and don't forget the sign/countersign . . . "It is warm in Moscow this spring . . . The camels are in heat . . . "

    The gag here, is that all these government officials would report these bizarre incidents, and the security services will be totally baffled.

    Oh, and some officials might actually take the play money.

    Outside of the Geek and Government universes, most normal folks probably have no idea what WikiLeaks and Julian Assange are.

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    1. Re:Improv Everywhere WikiLeaks Orchestration by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The gag here, is that all these government officials would report these bizarre incidents, and the security services will be totally baffled.

      No. We'd know because we monitor Slashdot. I'm tempted to say it's to watch for subversive activity but actually it's just something to read instead of working.

  13. Wikileaks and Australia, by wanzeo · · Score: 2

    add global warming and bitcoin and you'd have the perfect story.

  14. Hands up if... by david.given · · Score: 2

    ...you followed that last link, expecting it to lead to an opera version of the adventures of the famous Stainless Steel Rat, James Bolivar diGriz...

    Confusingly, the director's name is Harrison, too. Wayne Harrison.

  15. There's an interesting story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There's an interesting story to be told about Parkville revolutionaries. One day.

  16. Re:Happy Holidays from the Golden Girls! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Good to see you posting again.

    As the song says, thank you for being a fiend.

  17. so who's the fat lady? by nblender · · Score: 0

    I just gotta know, were either of his rape-accusers generally overweight? ie: It's not over until the fat lady sings...

  18. So... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So they're going to have a bunch of neckbeards sucking off a blonde guy on stage as he admires his own visage in a mirror?

  19. What's the final act going to be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Public execution or the overthrow of an ultra liberal right wing government?

  20. hello by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://slashdot.org/submission/1847926/watch-minnesota-vikings-vs-green-bay-packers-live
    http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/members/b/joeyright1_blog/archive/2011/11/13/watch-minnesota-vikings-vs-green-bay-packers-live-stream-online-free-hd.aspx

  21. blog comment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    great blog

    http://www.coresuntravels.com

  22. Change of name: Transposition. by thirdwikidotorg · · Score: 1

    It's name Julian ....... it's Jules