Image: Chris Oaten
Like many other children in countries all over the world, Cinderella was a prominent feature in my bedtime stories, and really ignited my creative spark and an appreciation for fairytale literature. It was all pure magic for a child with a growing imagination, and now the brilliance of Cinderella is being brought to life in a stage performance, La Cenerentola, set to hit the stage of Her Majesty’s Theatre this May.
La Cenerentola, Rossini’s operatic sensation will open State Opera South Australia’s Golden Jubilee 2026 season, in a fresh reimagining of the classic that draws on Adelaide’s transformative arts culture of the 1970s.
Telling the story of Angelina (Cinderella), a young woman who is mistreated by her vain stepsisters and arrogant father, Dom Magnifico, our leading lady embarks on a journey of self-discovery and wins the love of Prince Ramiro. Eliminating the elements of enchantment, the true magic of La Cenerentola comes from the humanity of the characters, their strength and resilience.
Directed by Neil Armfield, highly acclaimed theatre and opera veteran and guru, the piece reflects an integral period in Adelaide’s cultural identity, while also capturing the essence of the classic fairytale and showcasing some of the country’s best operatic voices.
“The 1970s were an extraordinary time for the arts in Adelaide,” says Armfield. “During the Dunstan era there was a sense that anything was possible — theatre, music and visual arts were flourishing and the city was alive with creative ambition,” he says, highlighting the fact that the arts during this era left a lasting impression on him in his early days.
“The 1970s reference in the design is a kind of playful memory. It reflects our experience working in theatre in Adelaide during those years, when the Festival Theatre and the arts culture around it were flourishing and the city felt like the centre of a vibrant cultural experiment.
“There was also a kind of theatrical vanity in fashion in the 1970s which suits the characters in Magnifico’s household perfectly…Rossini builds the opera around the idea that the world itself is a vast theatre.
“Characters are constantly performing versions of themselves — disguising their intentions, pretending to be someone else, or revealing their true nature. That theatrical idea sits at the heart of the production,” he says.
Rossini’s La Cenerentola was originally performed in Rome in 1817, making history as one of the composer’s most successful comic operas, shining a spotlight on its stellar writing and theatricality, and talented ensemble of performers. This upcoming production – playing only for a limited season – will honour Cinderella’s classic fairy tale with a fresh new spin, marking the perfect start to the State Opera South Australia’s celebration of fifty years of opera in the state.
Cinderella (La Cenerentola)
When: Thursday 7 May – Saturday 16 May, 2026
Where: Her Majesty’s Theatre
For more information or to book tickets, click here.
