The Magic Flute at Sydney Opera House, Joan Sutherland Theatre

If you go down to the woods today, you might find a pure-hearted prince and his feathered sidekick en route to rescue a damsel in distress, a queen atop her starry throne; mysterious temples, dancing bears and a levitating picnic. If in danger, just follow the sound of the flute.

In today's technology-soaked world, it's rare that anything off-screen entrances a child for more than a few minutes.

But look around at a performance of Julie Taymor's production of The Magic Flute , and you'll see children captivated.

Utterly still, utterly silent (this is, when they're not chortling with laughter or gasping with surprise).

That's because The Magic Flute is like nothing they've ever seen before. The stage is alive with colour and movement, the music is enchanting, the movement is magical.

From Monostatos' grotesque nose to the Queen of the Night's shimmering wings, everyone and everything that appears on stage is larger than life.

As in a Pixar film, this production brilliantly balances visual stimulation with amusing dialogue in a charming English translation. The result is a pantomime of brilliant colour, set to Mozart's timeless music.

Perhaps all you need to fire a child's imagination is a little old-fashioned theatrical magic.