Flowing mullets, flares and romantic comedy collide in State Opera’s glorious 1970s Cinderella this May

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And with two tickets for $100, there’s still room in the Mother’s Day budget to make a proper day and night of it. Take Mum to lunch, head into the city for the show, and if you happen to be the one sitting beside her, consider it a little gift to yourself, too.

The offer is available for the Thursday 14 May and Saturday 16 May 7:30pm performances, with two tickets for $100 and additional tickets available for $50 each. It means you can gift Mum the tickets on Mother’s Day, then take her the following week for a night of live music, theatre and a little bit of retro Cinderella chaos.

For anyone who has been curious about opera but hasn’t been sure where to start, or even those who are a little sceptical, Cinderella is a very friendly entry point, and it’ll likely change your mind in a big way. The story is familiar, the pace is quick, the characters are larger-than-life, and the production plays like a bold modern comedy rather than a formal night at the opera.

There is also the magic of a fully live performance, with singers on stage and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra performing in the pit, bringing Rossini’s dazzling score to life every night.

This fresh South Australian production is directed by acclaimed Australian theatre and opera director Neil Armfield, who has reimagined the opera through a playful theatrical world inspired directly by Adelaide’s arts culture and fashion of the 1970s. Expect flared pants, puffy sleeves, shiny costumes, big hair, bold styling and, yes, glorious flowing mullets.

“The 1970s were an extraordinary time for the arts in Adelaide,” Armfield said.

“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.”

That theatricality is at the centre of the production, which leans into the idea that everyone in the opera is performing a version of themselves. Characters disguise their intentions, pretend to be someone else, and eventually reveal who they really are.

The cast is led by celebrated mezzo-soprano Anna Dowsley as Angelina (Cinderella), returning to Adelaide from an international career to take on the title role. She is joined by Jihoon Son as Don Ramiro (the Prince), Nicholas Lester as Dandini, Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Don Magnifico (the stepfather), Pelham Andrews as Alidoro. Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters are played by Indyana Schneider as Tisbe, and internationally acclaimed Australian soprano Helena Dix as Clorinda.

Dowsley said rehearsals have already brought the production’s energy to life.

“There’s a real sense of energy in the room, and I think we can all feel the chemistry. It’s playful, it’s fast-moving, and it’s full of heart,” she said.

“Angelina is a deeply human character; she leads with kindness and resilience, and that really comes through in Rossini’s music.”

Teddy Tahu Rhodes said the production offers exactly the kind of fun, light-hearted escapism audiences are craving.

“Rossini is great entertainment — it’s fun, light-hearted, and I think something audiences really need right now,” Rhodes said.

“Playing the slightly outrageous and grumpy stepfather at this point in my career fits me beautifully vocally, and it’s a privilege to be performing in a great opera like this.”

The production opens State Opera South Australia’s Golden Jubilee 2026 Season, marking 50 years of opera in the state. It is also the first of four brand-new productions being created in Adelaide this year, with this new Cinderella set to tour to New Zealand in collaboration with New Zealand Opera after its Adelaide season.

For Glam Adelaide readers, the timing makes it especially giftable. Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 10 May, which means tickets can be gifted on the day, with performances taking place the following Thursday and Saturday. Or take mum early, to kick off an extra special weekend for her.

So instead of another standard present, this is a chance to take Mum to Her Majesty’s Theatre for a world-class live performance full of colour, comedy, music and nostalgic 1970s flair.