The themes of La Traviata centre on a world of contrast and change. Giuseppe Verdi’s original story was based in 19th-century Paris, centred around the courtesan Violetta and her love affair with nobleman Alfredo. The tragic opera continues to resonate today with themes that highlight contrast amongst peer expectation, divergent realities in pursuit of pleasure, and the price of presenteeism that the characters experience through the story.

The set and costume design was conceived to explore these themes: as fashions evolve. expectations change, private spaces like the boudoir become more public as people constantly perform for an audience – constructed snippets projected to a digital audience. An image of the self, however perfectly portrayed, is inevitably shattered by the ultimate contrast of life and death. These themes are reimagined for a modern audience, rooted in the spirit of art nouveau Paris.