The Understudy is inspired by Julie Bennett's father's long operatic career and her own early experiences on stage in the Sydney Opera House as a child extra in the Australian Opera Company's (now Opera Australia) 1973 production of War & Peace.
Two days before the grand opening night at the Sydney Opera House, in 1973, the female lead disappears and the understudy steps in, winning the hearts of the audience and her male lead, a famous Italian tenor.
But suspicion soon lands on her and the mystery unravels as we go back in time and learn about the female lead's past and just how dangerous ambition can be...
About the author
Julie Bennett was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and migrated to Australia after her father was offered a full-time role as a tenor in the Australian Opera Company. She lives in Sydney with her husband and their kelpie cross cattle dog, Riley.