FiltersShow / Hide

A new translation by Kit Hesketh-Harvey, who also directs.

Part-pantomime, part-opera, Kit Hesketh-Harvey's new production relives The Magic Flute's sublime music and triumphant opening night in 1791. Lofty divas and low comedians flourish. Watching closely are the shadowy forces of Freemasonry. And the composer, Mozart, fears he is being poisoned. A delight for opera connoisseurs and new comers alike.

Kit Hesketh-Harvey is well known for his cabaret (Kit and the Widow, Kit & McConnell) and his appearances on Radio 4's Just a Minute. But he also has an established track record translating opera for the Royal Opera House, ENO and Opera North and has directed The Merry Opera's sell-out productions of La Traviata and La Belle Helene.

The Merry Opera Company

The Merry Opera Company has been created to open a door for people who find opera hard to access and understand. It aims to widen the appeal of opera by staging professional shows in modern English that break the framework of tradition and can be appreciated by audiences accustomed to music theatre and pantomime, while staying true to the core of the original.

For those who love opera, the shows bring fresh interpretations of classic works. For those new to opera, the shows are understandable, interesting and enjoyable.

The Merry Opera Company will be performing in major town theatres, pubs, open-air amphitheatres and shopping streets.

The Merry Opera Company tour dates