There is something genuinely special about watching a child experience live theatre for the first time — and Freeze Frame Opera’s Little Red captures that magic effortlessly. Attending with my three-year-old, I spent much of the performance glancing sideways at her permanent smile, wide eyes and spontaneous giggles as she sat completely captivated by her first opera unfolding onstage. For a production aimed at introducing young audiences to opera, Little Red succeeds brilliantly in making the art form feel joyful, accessible and wonderfully alive.
Inspired by Mozart’s Don Giovanni, this clever reimagining follows Little Red as she navigates life with her mother’s new boyfriend, Don, before unexpectedly befriending his talking dog, Wolfie. Running at just 40 minutes, the show understands its audience perfectly — energetic, fast-paced and packed with humour, while never sacrificing musical quality or emotional warmth.
Charis Postmus bursts onto the stage with infectious energy, immediately commanding the attention of even the youngest audience members. Her performance is vibrant and playful, grounding the production with warmth and charisma. Sholto Foss is an absolute delight as Wolfie, delivering physical comedy with precision and enthusiasm. His expressive movement and comedic timing had both children and adults in fits of laughter throughout.
Sam Claxton brings an easy charm and humour to Don, while Michelle Pryor’s phenomenal vocals elevate the production to another level entirely. Her voice is stunning — rich, expressive and technically impressive — providing moments of genuine operatic brilliance within the playful framework of the show.
Another standout is the interaction with pianist Tommaso Pollio, whose presence becomes part of the storytelling itself. Rather than remaining hidden in the background, Pollio’s engagement with the performers adds another layer of fun and accessibility, helping demystify the operatic experience for younger audiences.
One of the production’s greatest strengths is its post-show Q&A and interactive component, where children are invited to ask questions and learn how opera singers use their voices by engaging in interactive activities and singing themselves. Rather than opera feeling distant or intimidating, Little Red opens the door wide and invites children inside.
Having previously seen director Penny Shaw perform onstage herself, it is exciting to now see her creative vision shaping productions from behind the scenes. Her signature warmth, intelligence and energy are evident throughout the entire show. Shaw clearly understands how to create theatre that respects children’s intelligence while remaining playful, engaging and deeply entertaining.
Perhaps most importantly, Little Red demonstrates why introducing opera to children early matters so much. When presented in an accessible and imaginative way, opera loses any sense of cultural distance or exclusivity and instead becomes what it should be: storytelling, music and emotion shared with everyone.
Freeze Frame Opera continues to prove itself as one of Perth’s most important companies for young audiences. If you have ever wondered how to introduce children to opera, this is the perfect first experience. Go and see it or get it out to your school — you may find yourself just as enchanted as the children around you.
To book tickets to Little Red, please visit https://www.freezeframeopera.com/little-red-2026/.
