Opera North’s Mini Magic Flute

The Mini Magic Flute as seen in 2018. Pic by Mark McNulty

Opera North is taking a “bite-size” children’s version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute to a range of venues in the North of England this summer.

The 40-minute adaptation of the opera, performed by a trio of singers and an accordionist, will visit Leeds, Doncaster, Ripon, York, Ryedale, Otley, Chester, Manchester, Bradford and the Lake District on dates spread from June to August. It’s called Mini Magic Flute, is full of fun, fantasy and music and is a perfect first taste of opera for audiences of all ages.

Part of the audience at 2018's Mini Magic Flute. Pic by Mark McNulty

The show features fantastical characters, including a prince, a princess, a bird-catcher and a dragon, who encourage young audience members to assist them on their quest.

The mini-opera first scored success at the 2018 CBBC Summer Social, after which it toured alongside Opera North’s full production of The Magic Flute in 2019. This time, writer and director John Savournin has worked with Rosie Kat and Bek Palmer to adapt the show for the company’s Little Listeners programme of family-friendly concerts.

Before each performance, youngsters are invited to take part in a craft session with parents and carers, at which they will be helped to make a paper bird. These will be used as part of the story and can be taken home afterwards.

Mini Magic Flute will also be performed at Opera North’s partner schools and universities in Yorkshire.

There's more info and a full list of venues, with booking links, here