Storytime Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

The Australian Ballet are bringing The Sleeping Beauty back to the stage, but this time exclusively for children with their Storytime Ballet.

Simplifying the storyline and incorporating a narrator, Storytime Ballet makes it easier for younger audiences, or those unfamiliar with ballet to understand and engage with the story of Sleeping Beauty. Dancer for the Lilac Fairy and Aurora, Robyn Begg said,

“It’s a short version of the main ballet, they get rid of all the stuff that doesn’t develop the storyline and it’s all the fun characters that the kids can relate to. So, it’s aimed towards children, or perhaps boyfriends or anyone that hasn’t been to the ballet before.”

Audience engagement is a main part of the show and the storyline stays faithful to the original, with a bit of extra humour added in by Artistic Director David McAllister.

“Audiences are invited quite early on to speak up, we have a narrator that explains what’s happening because ballet mime can get confusing. David’s definitely added an element of humour to it that’s probably not always in the original,” Begg said.

Originally casted to be the Lilac Fairy, Begg said she will be playing Aurora for the first class, “I was meant to be playing the Lilac Fairy but due to injury I’m actually now doing Aurora, so it’s been a bit of a whirlwind week. I am a bit nervous, but I’m really looking forward to it, especially being centre stage.”

Being a part of Storytime Ballet for three years now, Begg is excited to be a major part of this show.

“I feel like I’m an original cast member for Storytime and it’s probably my favourite – I love getting to perform so many shows in a season and its very special because you get comfortable with the characters and get to feel relaxed on stage. The best part though is doing it for the children,” Begg concluded.

Dec 20-29. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney. $43 -$56. Tickets & Info: www.australianballet.com.au

By Jade Morellini.