Opera Australia hits the road

Sam Roberts-Smith

Opera Australia is taking a Mozart's The Magic Flute and transporting it to a modern day archaeological dig in Egypt, even including a mummy in the cast.

But the real transporting is of the sets and cast, as they take the production across the vast Australian outback to parts unknown. The opera will be performed in 26 cities, including Morundah with a population of ten. The town had no place to perform, so a farmer built a pig shed, which has been dubbed the Paradise Palladium. 

Starring as Tamino is barihunk turned hunkentenor turned barihunk Sam Roberts-Smith, who cast an imposing figure as the renamed Armed Man 1. If you're confused, check out our recent post about Sam Roberts-Smith's fach change. Papageno is being played by Christopher Hillier, who is renamed Armed Man 2.

This is Opera Australia's third production to hit the road and it already appears to have been a hit with audiences in Ballarat, Bendigo, Dandenong, Marysville and Nunawading. There are alternating casts, so check out the Opera Australia website for cast information and tour dates.