When Opera Hits the Club: Upcycled Fashion Meets Strauss’s Masquerade at the Opera
Opera UCT’s Die Fledermaus production at the Baxter this October is set to celebrate the composer’s 200th birthday in fashionable style
Opera is about to trade its powdered wigs for streetwear edge as Opera UCT brings Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus into the now, styled by award-winning fashion designer, Gavin Rajah. Running from 23–26 October 2025 at the Baxter Theatre, this mischievous operetta of mistaken identities, love triangles and midnight parties will be dressed for the 21st century in a wardrobe that fuses sustainable couture with street-smart swagger.
Forget stiff gowns and tuxedos. Rajah’s vision reframes Strauss’s Vienna into the energy of Cape Town in spring and summer, drawing on the Atlantic Seaboard’s light, sea air and urban polish, then slipping into the heat of a Cape Town jazz club for Act II, all the while complementing Allegra Bernacchioni’s modern, bold sets and Christine Crouse’s direction.
Rajah’s look is cosmopolitan and youthful, shaped by contemporary silhouettes with clean lines, subtle cut-outs and airy layering that allow singers to move and breathe. A restrained sexiness underpins the tailoring, balanced with sophistication in fabric choice and finish. Bold colour anchors the palette, with Atlantic blues, sundown coral, fynbos green and metallic sand playing against inky black for evening scenes.
With his sights set on the future of clothing and the environment, sustainability has become a key focus for Rajah, and none more so than his choice of materials for this operetta. Favouring tactility, he has combined recycled satins, mesh, organza and technical cottons with deconstructed details that nod to street culture and conscious couture.
Ever an eye for detail, refinement comes through small, deliberate accents in nail art, hair and makeup, which is led by Raine Tauber, coding character and mood without distraction. The result feels unmistakably ‘Mother City‘: modern, confident and alive to the music.
“Opera thrives when it speaks the language of its time,” says Rajah. “We’ve upcycled couture, slashed seams, layered street silhouettes with salon tailoring, and built costumes to move as easily at an after-party as on the stage. This is Die Fledermaus for a generation that loves fashion, nightlife, and the art of reinvention.”
Characters in Couture
Without giving too much of the surprise away, here’s a quick look at what to expect from the principal cast members and a guide as to how audiences can dress up too:
- Rosalinde – liquid satin and tulle and edgy opera gloves.
- Eisenstein’s tux is cropped, raw-edged, and cinched with a ripstop cummerbund.
- Adele zips from “maid” into muse in sequins
- Dr Falke (the Bat) soars in a cape with a street-hood twist.
- Prince Orlofsky embodies ungendered glamour.
The result is a stage picture that’s romantic, unruly, and unmistakably contemporary – a masquerade with a beat you’ll feel in your bones and music that crosses the centuries to lift souls (and soles).
Why You Should Be There?
It’s a visual feast, a night out, a fashion show and party disguised as opera. It’s your chance to get dressed up and turn up. Tickets start at accessible prices, and the energy is designed to welcome first-timers and lifelong fans alike. Whether you’re into street fashion, nightlife, theatre, or just want to try something new – this is the moment to say yes to opera.
Show Information:
Opera UCT’s Die Fledermaus
Venue:
Baxter Concert Hall
Dates and Times:
23 – 26 October 2025
Ticket Prices:
From R100 – R500 (excluding Service Fee)
Bookings:
Tickets available through Webtickets
Running Time:
Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes, (includes 25 minute intermission)
Age Restriction:
None
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About UCT Opera:
Opera UCT is the premier opera training and performing institution on the African continent. We recruit the very best young local talent and provide an intensive, world-class training. Our productions and concerts are an exclusive showcase of these young artists before many proceed to prestigious placements on the international stage.
