one4review | On 21, Aug 2026

Operotica bill themselves as the UK’s “premier kinky opera duo” which I’m willing to believe they are. Consisting of the classically trained and immensely talented Amber Reeves and Dani Croston, Operotica play two lovers doomed to a cycle of endless death and rebirth unless they can finally come together and, well, come together.
We see the pair through a series of different eras in a series of, frankly, fantastic outfits which they inevitably start taking off, from medieval nuns to 18th century Venetian ladies-in-waiting, to some literal alley cats, all the while singing some of opera’s biggest and highest hits but just before they can finally get down to business, something happens and they’re catapulted forwards to the next lifetime.
The story is narrated and hosted by ghost whisperer and psychic extraordinaire the fabulous Séayoncé (spooky drag alter ego of Dan Wye) and given musical accompaniment by the surly Leslie Ann (aka cabaret icon Robyn Herfellow). Séayoncé’s bridging sections are a delightful slice of silly, saucy puns and gags and the combination of that with the overtly horny operatic sections gives the whole show a very strong burlesque-cabaret flavour. The two sections never truly blend but seeing as a lot of the show is just a framework for showing off Operotica’s singing skills in a variety of sexier and sexier outfits, that isn’t really an issue.
The show is unapologetically specific in its target audience, finding the sliver of the Venn diagram where lovers of kink, drag, comedy, striptease, queerness and opera meet. But the sheer level of craft and skill at all levels of those interlocking circles means that I think you really only need to fit into one to enjoy the show.
The most glaring thing is that such a salaciously steamy show has an oddly early runtime. This is the ideal late night show for an appreciative and slightly-sozzled audience and it feels odd to be seeing quite so many bejewelled sex toys and nipple pasties being waggled about at only 19:45.
Overall, Operotica: Lovers in Every Lifetime is a very fun show with a distinctly unique premise that has all the hallmarks of a great underground success. Chances are that you know if it’s for you already but if you suspect it might be, it almost certainly is.
****
Reviewed by Tom
19:45 to 20.45

5th-30th (no Mon)

Dairy Room at Underbelly, Bristo Square