ohn Maytham speaks to Sylvaine Strike, whose joyful directorial approach combines traditional opera with the expressive tools of movement and physicality — crafting a staging that is as visually captivating as it is musically rich. As she works with a cast she describes as "liberated by the process," Strike is using workshops, stylised comedy, and inventive staging — including turning the pianist into a character — to reinvent this 19th-century classic for modern audiences.

Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. 

A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk 

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