Madame Butterfly

11 Sep '25

Theater Oostpool

Puccini's world-famous opera Madama Butterfly has captivated generations of opera-goers with its very famous arias for more than a century. But what does this musical masterpiece, set in Japan, really tell us?

Festival Nederlands Theater Festival

Run time 105 minutes
Genre Theater
Language Dutch

Jury selection Wijkjury

The 1904 opera tells the story of 15-year-old Japanese geisha Cio-Cio-San, nicknamed Butterfly, who falls in love with an American naval officer. Madame Butterfly became a blueprint for countless stories and films portraying Asian women from a Western, male perspective: a vulnerable, subservient and sexual object for Western men.

After the overwhelming success of The Banana Generation, it is time for director Char Li Chung to take a new step in Asian representation in Dutch theater. With Madame Butterfly, he brings a radical and contemporary response to the original Italian opera. In addition to new characters, performed in the context of a real history, Cio-Cio-San (Cystine Carreon, known from Gooische vrouwen and Miss Saigon, among others) finally gets to speak for herself. And it's about time.

From the jury report

“A powerful musical stage performance. It dispenses with the idea that Asian women would be willing, submissive, silent and invisible. The sets, music and singing are full of energy and passion. What a spectacle!”

The Wijkjury Breda consists of: Astrid, Jan, Jolanda, Marian, Nataliya, Thil, Veronique, Wabe, Wilma and Wim.

4 - 14 september 2025

Nederlands Theater Festival

Het Nederlands Theater Festival (NTF) annually marks the official kickoff of the new theater season. During eleven days, starting on the first Thursday in September, the festival in Amsterdam presents a selection of the finest, most impressive performances of the past year.

NRC

“Unconventional and urgent performance.”

Scènes

“Sizzling energy and blistering emotions.”

Credits

text Sun Li & Vera Morina
director Char Li Chung
performers Cystine Carreon, Kok-Hwa Lie, Nhung Dam, Charlotte Ha, Mei Ling Wan-Im en Lulu Streefkerk
dramaturgy Madelon Kooijman
set design Yannick Verweij
lightning design Yuri Schreuders
sound design Jelle Hoekstra
costume design Patricia Lim
hairdressing and make up design Bärbel Scheid
assistant director Anne van der Vegt
production leader Judith Rosendaal
technical production Jeroen Helsloot
technical staff Han Verweijen, Hergen Verheul, Pieter de Jonge, Denson Batteké, Jurre Pöpping, Douwe van Doornewaard, Niels Bruynjé
lightning programmer Wout Panis
musical medley Jelle Hoekstra, Marco Hoving
assistant set design Lucas Dragt
intern set design Charlie Alana Oudenallen
set atelier Reisopera
costume atelier Femke van Neerven
assistant costume atelier Berber Struiksma, Fleur Ummels, Eva van den Top
dresser Joyce den Ouden
textile dyer Roos Mikx
casting Emilie Pos
marketing Daniel Jaspers, Luca Renting, Femke Krijntjes
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interaction & inclusion Sara Bouman
interns interaction & inclusion Lisa Kim An Janssen
community-based audience recruitment Giovanna Chen
podcast Vinny Tailor
campaign image Elza Jo
promo video Kasper Tarenskeen, Rubenpaulruben
graphic design Isabelle Vaverka
with thanks to Kin Pok Xiong, Hui-Hui Pan, Aaron Wan, Atelier Kevin van de Bergh, Atelier Perru, Flint Amersfoort, Theater Hanzehof, Nederlandse Reisopera, Tim de Vries