For the Term of His Natural Life

Award-winning conductor and musical director Michael Loughlin leads the Darwin Chorale in a memorable concert featuring music from opera, oratorio and musical theatre. The performance takes place at the newly refurbished Charles Darwin University Theatre.

By Chelsea Heaney.

“The concert program features an appealing mix of music from operas such as Verdi’s Nabucco and Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann, selections from oratorios such as Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus and music theatre showstoppers from Ragtime and Les Misérables,” Loughlin said.

In particular, the afternoon will feature excerpts from Darwin musician Mark Hulsman’s acclaimed musical For the Term of His Natural Life. Telling the haunting and somewhat macabre story of convict escapee Alexander Pearce, Hulsman’s musical is based on Marcus Clarke’s 1870 novel of the same name.

Set in an Australian penal colony during convict times, For the Term of His Natural Life is made up of semi-fictionalised accounts and will appeal to lovers of Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera.

Loughlin, a sought after and acclaimed musical director, has called the NT home since 2008 and is the recipient of many Music Theatre Guild and Lyrebird awards. After taking on the role of Darwin Chorale’s Musical Director earlier this year, Loughlin’s musical direction has already impressed audiences in the Top End.  

For the Term of His Natural Life features the talented Darwin vocalists Fiona Wake and Shalom Kaa, who wowed audiences in Darwin Chorale’s 2015 Jesus Christ Superstar. Since its premiere in Tasmania in 2004, the musical has gathered rave reviews for its unique and powerful retelling of a dark time in Australia’s past and is a must-see for fans of epic musical narrative. 

Sun 18 Sep | 5pm | Charles Darwin University Theatre | $40, $36 Conc | darwinchorale.org.au