Opera and fun don’t always get invited to the same party. People imagine serious faces, gold curtains, and arias that last longer than a Cape Town cold front.
But Opera UCT’s Die Fledermaus is the opposite: it’s fizzy, flirty and gloriously extra — the kind of night out where you dress up, laugh out loud, and nudge the person next to you because yes, that just happened.
This production is bang-up to date: the famous Act II party has been moved to a Cape-based jazz nightclub — all shadows, delicious music and late-night swagger. The costumes are street-to-salon chic (masks welcome), the pace is brisk, and the vibe is “friends’ night out,” not “whisper and behave”.
Worried about language? Don’t be. The music is sung in German, the dialogue is in English, and surtitles keep everyone in the loop (including multilingual moments — so no one gets left behind). If you can follow a meme, you can follow this plot: mistaken identities, cheeky pranks, stolen kisses, and champagne-fuelled chaos.
For everyone
That old myth that opera is for older, wealthy, mostly privileged crowds? Not this one. The cast is young, the staging is proudly Cape Town, and the energy is for everyone — date-night people, fashion people, music people, first-timers, and yes, families (under 18s are free — just book on Webtickets to reserve seats). And yes, it’s a world-class production too.
Think of Die Fledermaus as your favourite night out with better melodies. It’s the same delicious mischief from rom-coms and club stories, just sung by voices that can lift the roof and a band that can swing. Come as you are or come extra. Either way, you’ll leave smiling — and maybe humming.
Opera UCT’s Die Fledermaus runs at the Baxter Theatre from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 October.
Tickets range from R100 to R500 (u-18 enter free but need to book).
Book at Webtickets.
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