Sydney Reviews

The Australian Ballet’s production of Storytime Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty brings the fairy tale to the stage with a flutter of magnificent tutus and enchanting ballet performances. Designed by Hugh Colman the costumes alone were worth the price of the tickets. The tutus that the Fairies of Joy, Grace and Musicality wore were gorgeous. Layers of lace and colour creating perfect circles of art around the dancers were matched only by the feet that pliéd beneath them.

Sean McGrath narrated the story and I admired his ability to keep little princesses and princes focused on the show through his interaction with the audience. He allowed grace and elegance to have their moment in the spot light but his touch of Punch and Judy gave the show its glue.  

The story was the tale of Aurora who because of fairy spells pricks her finger and falls into deep sleep for 100 years. But even the classic tale has a twist with guest appearances from Cinderella, Prince Charming, Red Riding Hood and The Wolf.

The choreography by Marius Petipa was beautiful and the dancers were exquisite. Ballet is often seen as such a high art, such an unobtainable element. Everybody knows the extraordinary lengths ballet dancers go to to master their craft and ballet, rightly or wrongly, is often seen as a bit highbrow. Yet this wonderful production removes that unobtainability without losing any polish despite an audience mostly under the age of ten. 

The magic on the stage was reflected in the wide eyes of the audience, young and old.  It was a delight to watch not only the performance but the reactions on the faces of children.


The Australian Ballet presents
Storytime Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Venue: Chatswood Theatre NSW
Dates: 22 – 23 April 2016

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Visit: australianballet.com.au/kids