Three Drunk Monkeys love song to the Opera House

In a rare and unique collaboration, creative agency Three Drunk Monkeys has unveiled a love song tribute to the Sydney Opera House and its place in Australia's cultural fabric. The filmed music project produced by Exit Films invites the world inside the iconic building and positions 'The House' as a contemporary cultural hub.

To the score of a new arrangement of Nick Cave's The Ship Song, the film features performances by some of music's greats including Neil Finn, Kev Carmody, Sarah Blasko, Angus and Julia Stone, Paul Kelly, Temper Trap, Martha Wainwright, Katie Noonan and Daniel Johns. SOH resident companies also appear - Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Teddy Tahu-Rhodes with Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, Bangarra Dance Company, Bell Shakespeare founder and director John Bell, Richard Tognetti and The Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Shot over 10 months by award-winning director Paul Goldman the film is a voyeuristic journey through the rehearsal rooms and backstage catacombs of The House. Capturing each artist in an intimate performance before the evening show, some are captured in final rehearsal or in a quiet moment of reflection. It is a celebration of the artists, architecture and interior workings of a building which has the world’s most famous exterior. 

The brief was to open the doors of the UNESCO world heritage building to all and showcase the broad range of artists and performers who create works of wonder regularly inside the famous sails.

3DM's creative director Noah Regan said the project had been a true labour of love.
"Throughout the process two things drove everybody involved; their deep love of The House and everything it stands for and a passion for the beautiful Nick Cave song and how fitting it is for this concept. We feel we've created something every Australian can be proud of and share and the world can appreciate."

Director of marketing and communications for SOH Victoria Doidge said they couldn't be happier with the beautiful interpretation of one of Australia’s most beloved love songs.
"We set out to create a piece of content that would celebrate the House’s role in the global creative community and as an icon for Australia," she said.
"Our content strategy aims to democratise the creative experience for as wide an audience as possible no matter where they are - in doing so we take performances beyond the confines of our stages to be enjoyed online, mobile or watching television. The calibre of the artists who volunteered in this project is testament to the House’s special place in our national psyche."

The music video will be distributedly widely across broadcast and social media platforms. Composer Elliot Wheeler's arrangement of The Ship Song will be released on iTunes and other selected channels on July 26.

In addition a 30 minute documentary, directed by Greg Apell and narrated by Guy Pearce, featuring behind the scenes interviews with the artists, residents and creators of The Ship Song project will be screened this month on Foxtel.