Rossini

The Barber of Seville

Regent Theatre, Melbourne
31 October–5 November 2025

Rossini

The Barber of Seville

Regent Theatre, Melbourne
31 October–5 November 2025

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From $79 + $9.80 booking fee

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Location: Melbourne

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2025

October

Fri
31 Oct 2025

November

Sat
01 Nov 2025

Mon
03 Nov 2025

Tue
04 Nov 2025

Wed
05 Nov 2025

Audio Described Performance

Audio Described
Full Calendar of Events
Venue

Regent Theatre
191 Collins St, Melbourne

Language

Performed in Italian with English surtitles.

Running time

Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one interval.

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Are you looking for The Barber of Seville in Sydney?

Beyond haircuts and beard trims, this canny barber is the city’s matchmaking maestro!

Almaviva is wealthy, stealthy and head over heels. Rosina is witty, pretty and just as smitten. She’s also inconveniently betrothed. They need a plan. Time to call on: Fi-ga-ro! Figaro! Figaro!

Enter the friendly neighbourhood barber with wits and tricks as sharp as his razors. He sets to work to unite the young lovers in an evening of disguises and duplicity.

This rollicking, laugh-out-loud comedy took a young Rossini just 13 days to write. Playful energy sparkles through as many famous tunes as you can pack into two-and-a-half hours.

A cast of great voices and high spirits play among a marvellous set of cartoonish proportions — a world inspired by 1920s silent films, featuring a life-size doll’s house as its centrepiece.

Australian Figaros Samuel Dundas and Simon Meadows lead some of our best comic talents in this side-splitting romp through Seville.

The Barber of Seville at Sydney Opera House (2016)

Photographer: Keith Saunders

The Barber of Seville at Sydney Opera House (2016)

Photographer: Keith Saunders

The Barber of Seville at Sydney Opera House (2016)

Photographer: Keith Saunders

The Barber of Seville at Sydney Opera House (2016)

Photographer: Keith Saunders

The Barber of Seville at Sydney Opera House (2016)

Photographer: Keith Saunders

Cast & Creative

Conductor
Tahu Matheson
Director
Elijah Moshinsky
Set Designer
Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer
Dona Granata
Lighting Designer
Howard Harrison
Figaro
Samuel Dundas (31 Oct, 3 & 5 Nov)
Simon Meadows (1 & 4 Nov)
Rosina
Helen Sherman (31 Oct, 3 & 5 Nov)
Emily Edmonds (1 & 4 Nov)
Count Almaviva
Shanul Sharma (31 Oct, 3 & 5 Nov)
John Longmuir (1 & 4 Nov)
Dr Bartolo
Andrew Moran
Don Basilio
David Parkin
Berta
Jane Ede
Orchestra
Orchestra Victoria

Opera Australia Chorus

Cheat Sheet: The Barber of Seville

Everything you need to know about Rossini's most famous comedy.

What happens in the story? Who was the composer? What should I expect from the music? Here’s everything you need to know…

Read the cheat sheet

Synopsis

ACT I

Scene I

Dr Bartolo together with his ward Rosina were, until recently, residing in Madrid. While there, Rosina had attracted the attention of the adventurous young Count Almaviva, who, on their departure for Seville, has followed incognito, determined to woo and win her. Disguised as a student called Lindoro, he serenades her at night below her balcony, but is making very little progress when he meets Figaro, a former servant of his who had left his employ to set up independently as a barber. Apart from his shop, Figaro also has a contract of service in Bartolo's household, and the two men strike a deal whereby Figaro will get Almaviva into the house.

Scene ii

Rosina is very excited by the attentions being paid her by the handsome young stranger and dares write to him. She is so closely guarded by Bartolo, however, that the task of getting the letter delivered threatens to be difficult. Figaro would seem to be the answer. Bartolo is shrewdly aware that something is going on, but he can't quite pin it down. Basilio, who is Rosina's music teacher but also an intriguer in Bartolo's service, warns him that Almaviva is in town and that he has designs on Rosina. Since Bartolo wishes to marry her himself, he determines to make the necessary arrangements at once.

ACT II

Scene I

A complete stranger called Don Alonso arrives that evening to give Rosina her music lesson instead of Basilio, who is sick. Bartolo accepts him only when he reveals that he has a plan to trap Rosina and discredit Almaviva. When the lesson is under way, Figaro arrives and insists on giving Bartolo his Tuesday shave. Suddenly, Basilio walks in, quite healthy, but such is Bartolo's confidence in Alonso that he collaborates in getting rid of Basilio. Unfortunately, Alonso, who is Almaviva in another disguise, overreaches himself and is caught out by Bartolo, but not before arranging to carry Rosina off at midnight.

There is a storm. Basilio goes for the Notary to marry Rosina and Bartolo at once; Bartolo goes for the police; Almaviva and Figaro bring a ladder.

Scene ii

Rosina remonstrates with Almaviva, but the confusion is quickly cleared up and the elopement all but takes place. Then Basilio arrives with the Notary, and Bartolo removes the ladder to the balcony. In the intervening few minutes the Notary marries Almaviva and Rosina and Basilio witnesses the contract. The young lovers are happy, Bartolo is defeated, while Figaro and Basilio make a lot of money.

 

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