OPERA

Opera's Forest Friends brings opera to life

  • Fouzia Van Der Fort
1 min read
Cape Town Opera’s Forest Friends featured Sisikelelwe Mngenela as Luna the Owl and Ntombizodwa Nkosi as Nia the Deer, both from Khayelitsha. Sasha Damons from Bellville played Tilly the Squirrel, while Seung-Ree Lee from Somerset provided keyboard music as the Young Explorer. Kayakazi Madlala from Monte Vista portrayed Zuri the Butterfly, Ernestine Nur Stuurman played Mimi the Mouse, and Danielle Speckman, both from Mitchell’s Plain, took on the role of Bela the Bunny.
Cape Town Opera’s Forest Friends featured Sisikelelwe Mngenela as Luna the Owl and Ntombizodwa Nkosi as Nia the Deer, both from Khayelitsha. Sasha Damons from Bellville played Tilly the Squirrel, while Seung-Ree Lee from Somerset provided keyboard music as the Young Explorer. Kayakazi Madlala from Monte Vista portrayed Zuri the Butterfly, Ernestine Nur Stuurman played Mimi the Mouse, and Danielle Speckman, both from Mitchell’s Plain, took on the role of Bela the Bunny.Picture: Cape Town Opera

Cape Town Opera brought its Forest Friends production to libraries across the city last week as part of its Opera Blocks series, a set of short operatic performances designed for children aged 0 to 5.

The shows were held at Cape Town Central, Athlone, Edgemead, Hout Bay, and Langa libraries from Tuesday, July 1 to Saturday, July 5.

Pictured right is Kayakazi Madlala, from Monte Vista, playing Zuri the butterfly, at Edgemead community hall on Wednesday July 2.
Pictured right is Kayakazi Madlala, from Monte Vista, playing Zuri the butterfly, at Edgemead community hall on Wednesday July 2. Picture: Fouzia Van Der Fort

The free concerts were presented in partnership with the Judith Neilson Foundation and the City of Cape Town. 

They performed in a circle, with the audience seated around them, either on chairs or on the floor.

Nia the deer, played by Ntombizodwa Nkosi, from Khayelitsha, Oliver Snyman, 6, and his twin sister Evelyn, from Edgemead, and Luna the owl, played by Sisikelelwe Mngenela, from Khayelitsha.
Nia the deer, played by Ntombizodwa Nkosi, from Khayelitsha, Oliver Snyman, 6, and his twin sister Evelyn, from Edgemead, and Luna the owl, played by Sisikelelwe Mngenela, from Khayelitsha. Picture: Fouzia Van Der Fort

The performers moved through the space singing, smiling, making eye contact, dancing, and high-fiving the infants, toddlers, and young children in the audience.

The show introduces young children to classical music through a blend of music, song, and play.

According to director Elizma Badenhorst, the programme is designed to introduce young minds to classical music, which has been shown to have a powerful impact on both development and creativity.

Tilly the squirrel played by Sasha Damons, from Bellville, and Mimi the mouse played by Ernestine Nur Stuurman, from Mitchell's Plain.
Tilly the squirrel played by Sasha Damons, from Bellville, and Mimi the mouse played by Ernestine Nur Stuurman, from Mitchell's Plain. Picture: Fouzia Van Der Fort
Oliver Snyman, 6, from Edgemead, enjoys an opera performance for young children at his local community centre. With him are Cape Town Opera’s Forest Friends: Ernestine Nur Stuurman as Mimi the Mouse, and Sisikelelwe Mngenela as Luna the Owl.
Oliver Snyman, 6, from Edgemead, enjoys an opera performance for young children at his local community centre. With him are Cape Town Opera’s Forest Friends: Ernestine Nur Stuurman as Mimi the Mouse, and Sisikelelwe Mngenela as Luna the Owl.Picture: Fouzia Van Der Fort