Event information
Cape Town Opera’s production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville is a fully staged production performed with piano. The production follows the witty barber Figaro as he uses his charm and cunning to unite two young lovers, in this comic opera full of infectious energy.
Making his Cape Town Opera debut, Britain's Got Talent finalist and former Cape Town Opera Young Artist Innocent Masuku joins the cast. Under the direction of Sylvaine Strike, this production promises to capture all the humour and spirit that make The Barber of Seville a timeless favourite.
The casts alternate performances, with the Blue cast including Megan Kahts, Mongezi Mosoaka and Bongani Khubeka. The Red cast includes Brittany Smith, Innocent Masuku and William Berger.
Staged at the intimate Theatre on the Bay in Camps Bay, the production channels the spirit of 18th-century Italian opera houses. The venue’s smaller scale becomes a creative advantage — what Strike calls ‘grand opera in bonsai form’ — giving audiences an up-close and emotionally resonant experience. ‘If you’ve never watched opera, you should try this production,’ says Strike - ‘it’s delightfully funny, filled with physical humour, love, intrigue and plot twists.’
With elegant, period-inflected costumes by Allegra Bernacchioni, lighting by Josh Lindbergh and a visual aesthetic inspired by classics like Les Enfants du Paradis and Bridgerton, this Barber of Seville promises to enchant romantics, comedy-lovers, and opera newcomers alike. It’s opera with heart, humour, and a healthy dose of theatrical mischief.