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2026

January

Tue
27 Jan 2026

Fri
30 Jan 2026

February

Tue
03 Feb 2026

Fri
06 Feb 2026

Thu
12 Feb 2026

Sun
15 Feb 2026

Tue
17 Feb 2026

Thu
19 Feb 2026

Sun
22 Feb 2026

Wed
25 Feb 2026

Thu
26 Feb 2026

Sat
28 Feb 2026
Venue

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney

Language

Performed in English with English surtitles.

Running time

Approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, including one interval.

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Nibble, nibble, little mouse, who’s that nibbling at my house? I’ll lure them in with sweets to eat, a child is a witch’s favourite treat!

Deep in the dark woods, Hansel and Gretel are hungry and looking for home. Just when it all seems hopeless, they stumble upon a spun-sugar house and an eccentric woman, who’s not as sweet as she seems. Will the plucky siblings outwit the wicked witch?

This whimsical production is a classic from acclaimed director Elijah Moshinsky, with plenty of humour and heart to balance the dark undertones of the Grimms’ fairytale. Familiar characters roam a surreal storybook world, with larger-than-life sets and costumes by Mark  Thompson. An all-star Australian cast features Margaret Plummer and Stacey Alleaume as the clever kids. Jane Ede is a delight in the role of the witch with Helen Sherman and Andrew Moran as the youngsters’ parents.

Tahu Matheson conducts Humperdinck’s magical score, which is filled with German folk tunes and luscious orchestration. Performed in English, Hansel & Gretel is an enchanting first opera for newcomers, and a nostalgic treat for opera fans.


Hansel & Gretel - State Opera South Australia (2010)

Cast & Creative

Conductor
Director
Set & Costume Designer
Mark Thompson
Lighting Designer
Revival Director
Hansel
Gretel
Gertrude
Peter
The Witch
Dew Fairy
Sandman

Opera Australia Orchestra

The Story

Once upon a time but perhaps not too far away there lived a poor broom-maker, Peter, his two children, Hansel and Gretel, and their step-mother Gertrude.

One day their parents, hoping to sell some brooms, left Hansel and Gretel alone. They had plenty of homework to do, but nothing to eat. Hansel soon came close to tears from hunger. But Gretel made him laugh instead, as she taught him a dancing song, and instead of tears, they laughed and danced.

But then their step-mother returned. Angry at finding them playing instead of working, she hit Hansel, and knocked over their last bottle of milk! Now there was nothing for supper. She chased them from the house. They could not return until they had filled a basket to the brim with wild strawberries from the woods.

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