Opera Blocks Brings Immersive Opera to Young Audiences

Cape Town Opera’s Opera Blocks brings classical music and theatre to its youngest audiences in a playful, safe, and immersive environment. Designed for babies (0 to 18 months), toddlers (18 months to three years), and families with children up to five years, the programme offers age-tailored experiences that spark curiosity and creativity from the very start.

Each Opera Blocks production is carefully themed, from underwater adventures featuring familiar tunes like Under the Sea to nocturnal glow-in-the-dark journeys in Twinkle, Twinkle. Children are free to crawl, toddle, and explore, touching costumes, props, and soft, child-friendly materials, while adults can move freely and join in the experience. There are no strict rules around food, breastfeeding, or napping - the space is entirely welcoming to families.

Sensory engagement is central to Opera Blocks. Children experience varied styles, rhythms, tempos, and vocal ranges through live music accompanied by piano or keyboard. Visual and tactile stimulation is provided through interactive lighting, removable costume elements, soft props, and inflatable items, all designed to safely enrich the environment.

The programme blurs traditional theatre etiquette, allowing flexible arrival times, freedom of movement, and gentle introductions to live performance. Collaborations with internationally renowned choreographer Dalija Thelander ensure movement and sensory techniques are integrated, supporting motor and cognitive development while enhancing the overall experience.

Flexible in theme, venue, and presentation, Opera Blocks makes opera and classical music accessible to families, turning early exposure into joyful play and laying the foundation for lifelong appreciation of the performing arts.

Families can book their Opera Blocks experience through the Cape Town Opera website.