Cabaret Frangipani
Part of The Lambeth Fringe 2026, Cabaret Frangipani brings together opera, original song and Pacific storytelling in a warm, witty performance from acclaimed Samoan tenor Sani Muliaumasealiʻi.
Part opera, part song, full story
Presented as part of The Lambeth Fringe 2026, acclaimed Samoan tenor and storyteller Sani Muliaumasealiʻi returns following a sold-out London season with Cabaret Frangipani: a radiant evening of opera, original song and Pacific storytelling.
When the Covid pandemic left Sani luxuriously stranded in rural Aotearoa New Zealand, far from the vibrant London theatre scene he had built his career around, he found himself becoming what he jokingly calls an artistic “Covid refugee”, a very first-world problem, perhaps, but one that demanded reinvention.
Sani went on to become the first Pacific presenter on RNZ Concert, New Zealand’s classical music station, winning audiences nationwide with his warmth, wit and infectious love of music. Yet amid the beauty and tranquillity of the countryside, the performer within never stopped singing.
Spanning continents, musical traditions and the occasional tenorial mood swing, Cabaret Frangipani journeys from the soaring melodies of Puccini, Leoncavallo and Gershwin to original songs from Sani’s acclaimed musicals Kava Girls and Baba the Bad Baboon.
Performed with piano accompaniment and backing tracks, this intimate conversation through music is filled with laughter, reflection and unforgettable performances. Part opera, part song and full story, Cabaret Frangipani brings Pacific soul and classical brilliance to The Lambeth Fringe.
“A tenor with baritone richness… Muliaumasealiʻi is outstanding.” — The Guardian
About Sani Muliaumasealiʻi
Sani Muliaumasealiʻi is a Samoan tenor, writer, composer, director and producer whose work brings together opera, theatre and Pacific storytelling in a distinctive, richly layered artistic practice.
Based between London and Aotearoa New Zealand, Sani is the founder of GAFA Arts Collective, Europe’s first Samoan arts collective, and the only Samoan playwright currently creating original theatre specifically for the UK stage.
A former artist with English National Opera and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, he has built an international career spanning opera, musical theatre, radio and interdisciplinary performance. His acclaimed works include Kava Girls, Talune, Baba the Bad Baboon and RinGAFA: The Power of Love of Power, his Pacific reimagining of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
In 2026, Sani presents Play Readings+ – The Collected Works of Sani Muliaumasealiʻi, a six-month London research and development series forming the creative foundation for his major 2027 London retrospective. The programme continues his mission to increase the visibility of Pasefika voices in British theatre and cultivate new audiences for Pacific-led work.
Whether performing Puccini, Gershwin or his own compositions, Sani creates bold, entertaining performances that bridge cultures with warmth, humour and a uniquely Pacific perspective.
Event Details
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