Mabel Wonnacott

Mabel Wonnacott is a Toronto-based opera director, performer and arts educator. She recently completed a diploma in Operatic Stage Directing with the University of Toronto. This winter, Mabel made her main stage directing debut with the world premiere of Lysistrata Reimagined, an opera by the New Composers Collective. With one foot in the world of puppetry, Mabel’s approach to opera often incorporates interdisciplinary practices. Mabel is the Creative Director of Can of Soup Collective where she produced and directed operas such as Bon Appétit! and Aunt Helen. Other directing credits with U of T Opera include Mostly Mozart (2024), Setting the Stage (2023) and scenes from the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Concert Series (2022/2023). Mabel was the assistant director for U of T Opera’s 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons where she worked with Maria Lamont (Cendrillon), Jennifer Tarver (Un Capello di Paglia di Firenze), Kelly Robinson (A Tale of Two Cities) and Michael Albano (A Comedic Trilogy). She was also the assistant director for Western’s 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons where she worked with Anna Theodosakis, Allison Grant and Michael Cavanagh. 

In 2023, Mabel was the opera directing participant for the Banff Centre’s Opera in the 21st Century program where she was the associate director for Don Giovanni (original direction by Joel Ivany). She was also the assistant director for Ivany’s production of Don Giovanni with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

Mabel is interested in many aspects of theatrical production and completed a technical residency with Koerner Hall in 2023.

Mabel considers herself a teaching artist and is an avid believer in opera as a vehicle for human connection and social change. She is the Ontario Provincial coordinator for Opera InReach and often works with young people as an arts educator. She is currently working with the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus as Assistant Director for their production of The Hobbit and will be the stage director for RCM’s High School Summer Vocal Intensive. Mabel will direct The Glenn Gould School’s fall opera production.