Dido

About

Dido is a highly visual, multimedia music-theatre adaptation of Henry Purcell’s baroque opera Dido and Aeneas, co-produced by Muziektheater Transparant and Theater Froe Froe. Directed by Wouter Van Looy, it is tailored for a young audience and blends classical opera with contemporary theatrical techniques. The staging integrates live actors and singers with intricate puppetry by Marc Maillard, creating a visual language that moves between reality and imagination. Jan Van Outryve re-arranges Purcell’s score for non-classical voices and a hybrid ensemble of jazz and folk musicians. The instrumentation expands the baroque palette with nyckelharpa, trumpet, trombone, bass, percussion and lute for a fresh cross-over sound. Projections and a dynamic set amplify the mythical, magical atmosphere. With eight puppeteers, five musicians, two actors and a dancer, the production builds a rich environment that brings the tragic love story to life for today’s younger audiences.