The Magic Pudding: The Opera

Details About The Show Creatives & Cast Ticket Information

Calvin Bowman, Anna Goldsworthy

The Magic Pudding: The Opera

9 May 2025 – 29 May 2026 The Round (Nunawading), Darebin Arts Centre, Bunjil Place, Online

The Magic Pudding is back and tastier than ever!

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Details About The Show Creatives & Cast Ticket Information

Victorian Opera is bringing its adored adaptation of Norman Lindsay’s classic The Magic Pudding to the stage in 2026 for an unmissable return season.

Filled with a measure of musical magic, deliciously playful costumes and a hearty helping of theatrical magic, this dinky-di delight brings Lindsay’s larrikin spirit to joyous life.

This Australian classic has inspired laughter for generations with its much-loved characters Albert the Pudding, Bunyip Bluegum, Bill Barnacle, Sam Sawnoff as well as those mischievous Puddin’-thieves.

Perfect for pudding-lovers of all ages!

★★★★ “An absolute joy” – Herald Sun

Originally commissioned by Victorian opera in 2013 and presented again in 2018.

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EDUCATION SHOW

Learn more about Access All Areas 2026.

Dates, Venue & Info

Friday 15 May to Friday 29 May 2026

Duration
75 minutes (approximately)

Language
Sung in English

The Round, Nunawading
Friday 15 May, 10.30 am & 1.00 pm*^

* Relaxed performance
^ Audio Description & Tactile Tour

Darebin Arts Centre
Friday 22 May, 10.30 am

Bunjil Place
Friday 29 May, 10.30 am & 1.00 pm*

* Relaxed performance

Online from Friday 29 May, 10.30 am via Access All Areas

The commissioning of this new Australian work was made possible through the generosity of Professor Barbara van Ernst AM.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne

Generously Supported by

RELAXED PERFORMANCE IS SUPPORTED BY

Marian & E H Flack Trust

William Angliss Charitable Trust

Open young minds to a new experience

Victorian Opera’s Access All Areas: Livestream Program returns in 2026. This program provides Primary School students an exciting backstage pass to the opera.

Presented across four 25-minute workshops online, each workshop showcases a different aspect of staging an opera: the voice, design, technical production and the orchestra. Access All Areas concludes with watching The Magic Pudding: The Opera in theatre, streamed live or on demand. This program is supported by Education Resources and associated activities.

Receive free admission to Access All Areas: Livestream Program when booking your school.

Starting from mid-April, as part of the purchase price, four interactive workshops are live-streamed direct to classrooms across Victoria. The workshops allow students to:

Explore the world
Learn about the process of designing and creating the world of the production through costumes, sets and lighting,
Meet and hear the opera singers starring in the production
Discover how the director shapes the action on stage
Observe an orchestral rehearsal.

All content is easily accessed online via a dedicated viewing portal and available on demand for six months, to better suit individual school timetabling.

Creative Team

Composer Calvin Bowman
Librettist Anna Goldsworthy after Norman Lindsay’s original work
Conductor Phoebe Briggs
Original Director Cameron Menzies
Remount Director Elizabeth Hill-Cooper
Set & Costume Designer Chloe Greaves
Lighting Designer Peter Darby

Cast

TBC

Orchestra

TBC

In-theatre

Price Type

One Reserve

Student

$16

Teacher (1 free per group of 10 students)

Teacher (Additional)

$16

Want to book tickets?

→Register for In-theatre→

Online

Price Type

One Reserve

Student

Teacher (1 free per group of 10 students)

Teacher (Additional)

Want to book tickets?

→Register for Online→

For any enquires please contact Education Team by email or phone (03) 9012 6659 (Monday to Friday, 10.00 am – 4.30 pm).

The safety of our audience and team is paramount. Current COVID-safe procedures will be adhered to for every performance. Our venue partner has worked diligently to develop and update their COVIDSafe Plan as circumstances change.