A FRESH 70S-INSPIRED CINDERELLA OPENS STATE OPERA’S GOLDEN JUBILEE SEASON
(Lead Image Helena Dix)
Rossini’s beloved fairy-tale opera Cinderella (La Cenerentola) will open State Opera South Australia’s Golden Jubilee 2026 Season in a vibrant new production that reimagines the classic story through a playful theatrical world inspired by Adelaide’s transformative arts culture of the 1970s.
Directed by acclaimed Australian theatre and opera director Neil Armfield, the new South Australian production brings Rossini’s exhilarating score and irresistible humour to life with vivid staging, bold design and a cast of some of the country’s most celebrated operatic voices.
Armfield said the production draws on the energy of a period that helped define Adelaide’s cultural identity.
“The 1970s were an extraordinary time for the arts in Adelaide,” Armfield said.
“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. As a young person discovering the arts during that time, it left a lasting impression on me.
“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. That spirit of play and theatricality felt like a wonderful lens through which to revisit Rossini’s La Cenerentola.
“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.”
Unlike the traditional fairy tale, Rossini’s La Cenerentola replaces magic with humanity. Instead of fairy godmothers and glass slippers, the opera celebrates compassion, resilience and the transformative power of kindness — following the journey of Angelina, a young woman mistreated by her family who ultimately discovers that generosity of spirit can change her destiny.
State Opera South Australia Artistic Director Dane Lam said he was excited to see Neil’s vision come to life.
“I first approached Neil about directing La Cenerentola almost two years ago, and I’m thrilled that he has joined us to bring this wonderful story to life. Rossini’s music is joyful, fast-moving and incredibly theatrical, and it is one of the great romantic comedies of the operatic repertoire. Neil and his team are the perfect fit for this opera and I can’t wait to see this production on Her Majesty’s stage,” Lam said.
The production features a stellar cast including Anna Dowsley as Angelina (Cinderella), Jihoon Son as Don Ramiro, Nicholas Lester as Dandini, Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Don Magnifico, Pelham Andrews as Alidoro, Indyana Schneider as Tisbe, and internationally acclaimed Australian soprano Helena Dix as the flamboyant Clorinda.
First performed in Rome in 1817, Rossini’s La Cenerentola is widely regarded as one of the composer’s greatest comic operas, celebrated for its dazzling vocal writing, sparkling ensembles and joyful theatricality.
The new South Australian Minister for the Arts Kyam Maher said the production signals the state’s leadership in shaping the future of opera in this country.
“South Australia has a proud history of cultural leadership, and this Golden Jubilee season shows we are not just celebrating the past — we are setting the agenda for the future of opera in this country. With four brand-new productions created here, State Opera South Australia is leading the way in developing bold, locally made work that backs our artists and connects with contemporary audiences. This production of La Cenerentola is a strong example of that ambition in action,” Minister Maher said.
Lam said South Australia is mounting more new operatic works this year than any other opera company in the country, positioning the Golden Jubilee season as a defining moment for the artform nationally.
“This production opens a very special season for the company. In our Golden Jubilee year we are unapologetically leading the nation in creating four brand-new operas here in South Australia, developed and produced locally for South Australian audiences. It’s an ambitious undertaking and a powerful way to celebrate fifty years of opera in this state,” Lam said.
La Cenerentola plays for a limited season at Her Majesty’s Theatre from 7–16 May 2026. Don’t miss this fresh new staging of Rossini’s beloved fairy-tale opera as State Opera South Australia celebrates fifty years of opera in the state. For more information and tickets, visit stateopera.com.au. ENDS.
Subscription Packages are available when you book two or more mainstage productions from the 2026 season. Golden Jubilee 2026 Season Subscribers can secure their preferred seats, enjoy a free date exchange for each production, and save on the price of their tickets.
Cinderella La Cenerentola
Her Majesty’s Theatre
07 May – 16 May 2026
Visit State Opera South Australia’s website
