Cape Town Opera premieres vibrant production of The Magic Flute in Athlone

Cape Town Opera (CTO) premieres Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Magic Flute, featuring engaging puppetry and tailored performances for young audiences, at the Joseph Stone Auditorium in Athlone from Tuesday, September 16, to Saturday, September 20.

The production, directed by Elizma Badenhorst, with designs by Frankie van Straten and lighting by Kieran McGregor, has been specially created for young audiences.

Conceptualised with accessibility and engagement in mind, the immersive production offers two unique versions, tailored for primary and high school pupils.

The adaptation brings Mozart’s opera to life through a playful blend of live performance and imaginative puppetry.

The music ensemble will be directed by CTO's Jan Hugo, who was recently seen onstage as Rossini in CTO’s hit comedy opera The Barber of Seville.

The Magic Flute is a fantastical opera that follows Prince Tamino on a quest to rescue Princess Pamina, facing trials of love, wisdom, and virtue.

He is guided by a magic flute and joined by the delightful bird-catcher Papageno, and he uncovers a deeper journey toward enlightenment and harmony. 

It serves both as an exciting introduction to opera and a valuable educational resource - particularly for high school music students, as The Magic Flute is part of the national curriculum.

It also underscores Cape Town Opera’s dedication to making opera inclusive, accessible, and inspiring for the next generation, and in keeping with this ethos, the production narration will be in English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa so that audiences can more easily understand the opera, which is sung in German.

The extraordinary cast features past and present members of Cape Town Opera's Judith Neilson Young Artist (JNYA) Programme and will enrapture audiences.

They include former JNYA Alida Scheepers, who stars as the Queen of the Night; and current JNYA participants Khayakazi Madlala as Pamina, Mongezi Mosoaka as Tamino, Sisikelelwe Mngenela as Papagena and Nathan Lewis on piano. 

Guest artist Riaan Hunter takes the role of Papageno while Garth Delport, a member of the CTO Vocal Ensemble, is Sarastro. 

CTO Vocal Ensemble ladies Pumza Mxinwa, Danielle Speckman, Nolubabalo Mdayi, Sasha Damons, Ernestine Nur Stuurman and Ntombizodwa Nkosi complete the lineup.

Audiences can look forward to a host of colourful bird characters brought to life by a mix of larger-than-life puppets, crafted by Frankie van Straten from recycled and found materials.

The result is a whimsical, interactive storytelling experience filled with humour and heart, providing schools and families a unique cultural outing that combines music, drama, and puppetry with education.

The Magic Flute is supported by The National Arts Council, the Western Cape Government Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, the Community Chest of the Western Cape and the Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust.

The short season has two shows daily at 10am and 1pm. Tickets cost R80 through Webtickets. 

After the season at the Joseph Stone Auditorium, The Magic Flute will be presented at US Woordfees in October.