The superbly talented cast of West Australian Ballet have been recently sprinkled with an extra large dose of fairy dust and transformed into the illustrious characters of young dreams and childhood memories. From the first breathtaking notes of the melodious score performed beautifully by the West Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, J.M Barrie’s masterpiece of literature and much loved children’s classic was magically brought to life in a truly spectacular ballet production.

Choreographed by the exceedingly creative Russell Kerr, “Peter Pan” is an absolute delight of whimsical dance, mesmerising set design, and a highly contagious sense of humour and fun. As usual, the West Australian Ballet has created a virtual feast for the eyes, ears and soul, fostering such a wonderfully accessible connection to the Arts for all to enjoy. His Majesty’ Theatre is the magnificent venue to house this very special experience, and this supremely impressive production is perfect for all ages, and a truly magical experience for those aged 3 to 103! With imaginations as bright as the sparkly, twinkling stars in the night sky, “Peter Pan” is a particularly lovely introduction to the art of ballet for young children.

As the boy who never wants to grow up, Andre Santos portrays the cheekiness and mischievous nature of Pan effortlessly, and with graceful leaps and lightness, he demonstrates his enormous skill as a dancer and an impressive childlike persona. Along for the adventure is Tinkerbell, played by Anna Ishii, whose nymph-like spark and energy is a captivating sight to behold, whilst her movements are so deft it seems as she is floating on air. The first act sees Pan and Tink slip through the bedroom window of the Darling family home, and following a delightful dance between Peter and his shadow, the audience is entranced as the youthful yet elegant Wendy, and sweetly endearing brothers Michael and John, fly into the waiting night sky, filled with exquisitely glittering star ballerinas.

Following a dreamlike scene where Peter, Tinkerbell and the children soar through the beautifully twinkling sky, a deft change of set design takes place and we are all dramatically transported to the special land from J.M Barrie’s imagination, the place where no one ever grows old….. magical Neverland. To the thrill of young and old, the Lost Boys take the stage amongst the whimsical trees of the enchanted forest, and bring J.M Barrie’s words to life through their charmingly heart -warming dance numbers. Highly entertaining performances by the comically villainous Pirates bring an immediate smile to the face (if not a riotous laugh that bubbles up from deep within!) Little girls and boys in every seat, already swept up in the mesmerising sets, performances and storyline, were decidedly spellbound by the appearance of swashbuckling Captain Hook, a greedily grinning interpretation with an evil gleam in his eye and a prowl that sent a little shiver across the theatre!

Graceful mermaids, proud Indian folk, a curiously amusing Never Bird, and of course the menacing crocodile loudly ticking every time he crept onto the stage, are just a handful of the enchanting elements that paint such a vibrant and dazzling picture of Barrie’s extraordinary tale of adventure and wonder. The second act is a stirring display of twists and turns, exciting sword fights and a dramatic storyline danced with extraordinary talent and agility by the cast of the West Australian Ballet. Numerous gasps of awe and delight could be heard throughout the performance as the lead and supporting characters communicated through dance and movement with such remarkable power and brilliant characterisation. Assisted by the rousing accompanying musical score, the audience is effortlessly transported to the land of make believe, evoking a childlike sense of joy and wonder that still resides in every adult, no matter what age..... and it just goes to prove - "Faith, trust and Pixie Dust" is all you need in life!