We have a World Premiere coming to Ipswich!

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Sam Sherman

LUCA SILVESTRINI’S PROTEIN PRESENTS – The Magic Flute

Following the success of Protein’s 2024 award-winning family show The Little Prince, the company returns with an enchanting new production, The Magic Flute, which offers the perfect festive outing for families.

The World Premiere of Protein’s highly anticipated new dance-theatre adaptation of Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute, comes to DanceEast, Ipswich on Friday 12 – Sunday 14 December. Tickets are £14 – £18 with a Family ticket of £55 (2 adults and 2 children under 16).

Created especially for children 5+ and their families but suitable for all ages, Luca Silvestrini’s The Magic Flute tells the tale of love and friendship triumphing over darkness. The story follows the fun-loving bird catcher Papageno and the lost Prince Tamino as they set out on a quest to rescue Princess Pamina, uncovering the truth about the mysterious Queen of the Night and the powerful leader Sarastro.

Luca Silvestrini said: “The Magic Flute marks our first new stage production since The Little Prince premiered in 2018, and we’re thrilled to share this reimagined version. Everyone at Protein has worked incredibly hard over the past few years to keep creating and connecting with communities through dance and theatre, and I am deeply proud of all we’ve accomplished during this time. To now bring a new full-length production to the stage is a truly special moment. I can’t wait to see it come to life this December.”

Co-commissioned by DanceEast and The Place, The Magic Flute is Protein’s first new full-length stage production in 7 years. Brought to life through a playful mix of dancing, singing, storytelling, the show uses Schikaneder’s libretto and striking visuals, with set and costume designs by Dick Bird. A rearranged version of the original Mozart score joins with additional new music by Frank Moon, and there are creative captions and video design by Douglas Baker, with lighting by Rachel Shipp.

Featuring a cast of four performers in multiple roles, including Nathan Bartman, Jacob Lang in his first production with Protein, soprano Donna Lennard, and Faith Prendergast who originated the title role in Protein’s The Little Prince.

For over 25 years Luca Silvestrini’s Protein has been one of the most distinctive voices in British dance theatre, blending choreography, text, music, and social commentary to engage and entertain audiences and participants across the world. Winner of the Critic’s Circle National Dance Award for Best Independent Dance Company in 2011 and nominated again in 2016, its body of work includes LOL (lots of love), Border Tales, May Contain Food, The Little Prince, and dance film The Sun Inside. For his work Luca has won a Jerwood Choreography Award, a Bonnie Bird New Choreography Award, The Place Prize Audience Award and One Dance UK’s Artistic Innovation in Dance Award.

With accessibility at its heart, everyone is guaranteed a welcoming experience at DanceEast. Every performance includes integrated creative captioning, with some relaxed shows also offering BSL interpretation, touch tours and audio description.

Tickets are £14 – £18. Family tickets are £55 (2 adults and 2 children under 16). Available online at DanceEast.co.uk or telephone the Box Office on 01473 295230.

Images: Roswitha Chester

DanceEast

DanceEast

Foundry Lane Ipswich IP4 1DW

We are one of the UK’s leading national dance organisations. Our mission is to remain at the vanguard of artistic, participatory and educational practice in dance.

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Who wrote this about Ipswich?

Sam Sherman

Sam is a Co-Founder of Ipswich.love. Passionate about Ipswich, Sam looks to see how we might jointly reverse some of the recent negativity and bring some deserved positivity back to our beloved Town.

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