Bibbidi-bobbidi-slay! Until June 1, you’ll be able to take in the breathtaking costumes created by Opera Queensland designers Karen Cochet and Bianca Bulley for everyone’s favourite rags-to-riches story, La Cenerentola (aka Cinderella).
Brisbane Quarter takes centrestage as the home to these extraordinary pieces, with either impeccable costumes from the acclaimed March 2025 production on display at Podium 1, Atrium for free!
Blending fairy-tale romance with high fashion flair, the eight exquisite garments on display tell a story in and of themselves, and serve the dual purpose of informing their respective characters and looking stunning on stage.
For example, Don Magnifico’s flamboyant floral suit by Alexander McQueen — incidentally, the same iconic design once worn by Timothée Chalamet — and accompanied by a cape of giant handmade roses, highlights the extreme over-the-top personality of the step-father character. The attention to detail is just as impressive as the symbolism, with each rose using three different-coloured fabrics on three different-sized petals to create a tonal depth within the flowers.
Also featured in the exhibition are the Stepsisters’ dazzling gowns, complete with sculptural hip silhouettes, corsetry, and over 140 hand-crafted roses, meant as well to underline their flamboyance, especially when compared to Cinderella’s more sober — though still beautifully crafted —Servant Costume.
Prince Charming’s elegant silver and gold-embroidered floral suit might even make you understand why Cinderella fell in love in one night, and her own light-as-air Ball Gown is a masterpiece of shimmering sequined tulle and embroidered silk that could only have been made by a fairy godmother — dressed, of course, in a purple silk embroidered suit that gives her a more modern edge for this version of the story — or amazingly talented designers.
Immerse yourself in the theatrical storytelling woven through these garments, each reflecting
the fusion of nature, fantasy, and human transformation at the heart of Rossini’s opera this whole month!