By Jackie Shannon
It’s been visually blitzed lately as part of The Vivid Festival, and now The Sydney Opera House will form part of the narrative bedrock of a new feature film. The currently titled Utzon, The Man Behind The Opera House (we’re tipping that that title – which sounds like a deranged fairy tale, or a creepy horror flick – will be changed before release) will focus on pioneering Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, who upset the conservative Australian architectural establishment when he won the coveted international competition to design an opera house on Sydney’s Bennelong Point. Arriving as a celebrity in 1957, Utzon found an unlikely champion and friend in the working class Labor Premier of New South Wales, Joe Cahill. Utzon’s radical design, however, fell victim to domestic politics, petty jealousies and budget constraints. Utzon also banged heads with the powers-that-be when the Liberal government of Robert Askin was swept into power at the expense of the supportive Joe Cahill. Utzon was abruptly forced to resign in 1966 before what would become one of Australia’s instantly recognisable buildings could be completed.
A Danish/Swedish/Australian co-production, the screenplay will be written by Petter Skavlan (Kontiki), though there is no director attached to the project as of yet. “I have been fascinated by the story of Jørn Utzon and The Sydney Opera House for many years, and look forward to finally getting the project under way,” says the writer. “The Sydney Opera House is a symbol of Australia as a cultural nation as well as a symbol of one man’s artistic vision. Against all odds, Utzon managed to build his opera house, and the epic battle between the architect and the corrupt Askin government is perfect movie material. This rich, dramatic story will play out during the construction of one of the world’s most iconic buildings. In many ways, the story of Jørn Utzon and The Sydney Opera House can be compared to Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, but with Rand’s merciless objectivism replaced by Utzon’s creative humanism.”
I love the Sydney Opera House and due to a long held love of Opera I was fascinated with the story of the design and the whole saga of stormy years right from 1957 till it was finally opened in 1974.
However it took me until 2017 to actually go there and see for myself what all the fuss and acclaim was all about.
Of course I was overwhelmed by Jorn Utzons design and foresight. It is a magnificent building.no doubt.
BUT. With all those years to consider every angle how did they miss two vital amenities??
To my absolute horror I was to discover 1. No toilet facilities upstairs close to the main theatre.
2 No centre isle in the theatre. A very long row of seats ( I was in the centre)Escape when one is suddenly desperate to get out is impossible.
By the time I ran down two flights of stairs and found the toilet I was saturated. Unbelievable!!
3. No lift up to the main theatre. My friend who normally walks with a Zimmer frame. had to struggle up by means of a walking stick and the hand rail!!
Where is Health and Safety in Australia??!!
I loved the Concert however. I’d waited for the chance to hear Joshua Bell in concert and would not have been disappointed had I been more comfortable.
When will this situation be dealt with.?
Please let me know so that I can return to the Opera House knowing these problems have been dealt with. I certainly would not consider a return until such a time as I can be sure of comfort and safety.
For a person with a “long held love of opera” to wait for over 40 years before making their initial visit to the Opera House seems rather extraordinary to me. If the same duration elapses before that ‘love’ induces a return visit, and unless Barbara was an infant at the outset, I rather suspect the people in charge are unlikely to expend the millions necessary to install the facilities she wishes, in the unlikely event of her still being alive to avail herself of them, for her return visit in another 43 years!