The Cunning Little Vixen: Family-Friendly Fun at the Opera

Families and first-time opera watchers are sure to enjoy the new English-language adaptation of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen at the Joseph Stone Auditorium. Reimagined for Cape Town Opera, the work places nature, imagination and renewal at its centre, celebrating the cycle of life through the adventures of the mischievous Vixen Sharp-Ears.

The Cunning Little Vixen follows Sharp Ears, a lively young fox, as she learns about the wonders of nature, friendship, and kindness following chance encounters with many animals and humans. The acclaimed opera was first performed in 1923, with resident CTO librettist Alan Olejniczak adapting the original story into a family-friendly production set to debut in Athlone this July.

With a loving message, cheeky humour, and a sense of adventure, the show serves as a gateway to opera for a new generation of theatre-goers, appealing to adults and children alike.

The creative team includes newcomers, with it being the directorial debut of Fiona du Plooy, known for her work as a movement director on Tosca, Suor angelica, and Le nozze di Figaro. Other award-winning crew include Tara Notcutt (Associate Director), Maritha Visagie (costume design), Clanelle Burger (masks and make-up), Kieran McGregor (set and lighting design), and Cleo Notcutt-Williams (choreography).

Siphamandla Moyake, known for her work as a soprano with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, plays Sharp Ears (the titular Vixen), while the forest itself is brought to life by talented performers from Cape Town Opera’s Vocal Ensemble and Judith Neilson Young Artists. This includes Nica Reinke as Gold Stripe, Thandolwethu Longo as the Owl, Mandisinde Mbuyazwe as the Poacher, and Dumisa Masoka as the Hen.

Those who saw CTO’s acclaimed recent production of Carmen are sure to recognise house soloists Nonhlanhla Yende and Conroy Scott during the performance. Finally, the forest atmosphere is further enhanced by sets of dragonflies, fox cubs, crickets, hedgehogs, and frogs, all played by members of the Cape Town Opera Children’s Chorus.

How to book tickets to The Cunning Little Vixen

With many of the biggest productions playing in Cape Town’s City Centre, The Cunning Little Vixen gives families from the Southern Suburbs a chance to experience a specially curated show with some of the city’s most talented up-and-coming performers.

Cost: R80 per person. Bookings can be made on Webtickets.

When: 21 – 26 July 2026 | Shows start at 11am | From 2pm (Saturday matinee)
Where: Joseph Stone Auditorium, cnr Protea St & Klipfontein Rd, Athlone, Cape Town