Candide

In 2024, South Australia’s flagship theatre and opera companies will come together for the first time in more than a decade, along with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, to present a spectacular concert version of Leonard Bernstein’s beloved comic operetta and existential vaudeville, Candide.

Based on Voltaire’s 1759 novella, this ever-relevant Broadway hit tells the story of naïve young Candide, facing exile after falling in love with the Baron’s daughter, Cunegonde, and their mutual embarking on an enthralling, lyrical, sobering but hilarious journey across the globe that challenges their optimistic outlooks on life and love.

Voltaire’s characters leap off the page and onto the stage in this major theatrical event, bringing together some of Australia’s most celebrated musical and opera stars, including Alex Lewis (The Merry Widow, Barrie Kosky’s The Nose) as Candide, Annie Aitken (Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Cunegonde, John Longmuir (The Pirates of Penzance, The Barber of Seville) and featuring the legendary talents of Adelaide Cabaret Festival Icon Award-winning superstar Hans (Matt Gilbertson) and Australian and West End stage titan Caroline O’Connor (Chicago, Moulin Rouge, 9 to 5 The Musical).

Artistic Director Mitchell Butel will share directing duties with Co-Director and Choreographer, Amy Campbell (A Chorus Line, Once) as well as assuming the roles of our Narrator and Candide’s teacher, Pangloss, in his first stage appearance since The Normal Heart.

Composed by West Side Story and On The Town’s Leonard Bernstein and with lyrics from some of the greatest writers of the 20th century including Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Stephen Sondheim, the score sparkles with classic songs including “The Best of All Possible Worlds”, “Glitter and Be Gay”, “Eldorado” and “Make Our Garden Grow”.

Prepare to be swept away, as the history and artistry of State Theatre Company South Australia and State Opera South Australia converge in this epic, mischievous and stirring new production at Adelaide’s glorious Her Majesty’s Theatre.