The Place, London
December 18, 2025
Protein artistic director Luca Silvestrini has been creating dance works of distinction for the past 25-years. His adaptation of The Magic Flute, the company’s first new stage show in seven years and the first since the company lost its Arts Council England National Portfolio funding, is no exception.
The show is aimed at those five years and older. Right from the start, Silvestrini connects directly to the young audience, making use of a trope where the characters step outside the play, introduce themselves to those watching, and give a short but clear explanation of their role in the story. Since The Magic Flute has a rather convoluted storyline, this is both creative and clever.
Photo Jane Hobson
The story is a quest of good over evil, of love, learning, and rites of passage, undertaken by a lost prince who submits to various trials to gain the fairytale ending. The four performers, Nathan Bartman, Donna Lennard, Jocob Lang and Faith Prendergast, play multiple roles with assurance.
There is a good amount of dancing, which, while not particularly original or innovative, is pretty, well-executed and, very importantly, appeals to its audience.
Bartman and Lang have developed well rounded characters as Prince Tamino and Papageno, a friendly bird catcher is roped into aiding Tamino on his quest to rescue Princess Pamina, along the way uncovering the truth about the mysterious Queen of the Night and the powerful leader Sarastro. Lennard makes a very convincing old woman, but is somewhat less effective after the transformation into Papagena.
Photo Jane Hobson
Dick Bird’s costumes are excellent and give some genuine scary moments, while his set is effective without being over complicated.
The Magic Flute was Mozart’s last opera before he died an untimely death aged just 35. Written for a broad audience, Silvestrini has managed to sidestep aspects of misogyny and racism in the piece, while still leaving haunting suggestions of a darkness that lies beneath.
It was good to see a full house at The Place, the audience mainly children, all of whom were completely engaged with the show. My seven-year-old granddaughter was spellbound from beginning to end, commenting afterwards on how magical the show is. If you have young members of your household, The Magic Flute should definitely be on your holiday show list. But perhaps read them the story before you go.