Nearly 100 people attended the show which was held in the Bowling Club's beer garden.

The opera was sung in english and brought together both modern and traditional elements, including a guitar playing rock star.

The audience became involved in the production when the performers walked among them and got some up to dance.

‘Carmen' was presented by Co-Opera, a group formed in 1990 to present opera in new and creative ways to diverse audiences throughout Australia.

The group is different from other opera companies in that it endeavours to perform in unusual venues, mixes singers with the audience, maximises the fun and humour in opera and presents opera in a cabaret style.

The group visited Lightning Ridge as part of its outback tour and following the performance it was headed to Bourke to perform there.

Member of Co-opera, Marco Cinque, who played Remendado in the opera, said the singers had enjoyed what they had seen of Lightning Ridge.

"It's a beautiful place. It's a good break for us, and a good reason to come," he said.

He said he found performing in front of audiences in the country was a lot different from larger audiences in the city.

"I've found them a lot warmer. They're less critical than city audiences. Everyone's here for a good time, and you give more and work off the audience."

Mr Cinque has studied for eight years in Australia and Italy, and has undertaken numerous roles in productions such as La Boheme and Falstaff. This is his first role in Co-Opera.

The opera Carmen was created by Georges Bizet and is one of the most popular operas written.

The opera follows the story of the passionate gypsy girl Carmen who plays with men's hearts, which ultimately leads to her own destruction.