The well-loved children’s fairy tale Peter Pan hits the Artscape Theatre next week. Dancers of the Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB) along with young students from studios in and around the city will join to present an entertaining showcase of ballet at its finest.
The ballet was last performed in 1981, when it was choreographed by the late Pamela Chrimes for the UCT Ballet School.
This year’s version, Peter Pan and The Lost Boys, will be produced and choreographed by the CTCB’s artistic director, Robin van Wyk.
His previous works include Robin Hood (2005), Beauty and the Beast (2006), The Ugly Duckling (2008) Alice in Wonderland (2009) and The Sleeping Princess (2011).
This is a Cape Town City Ballet Youth Project and dancers of the Cape Town City Ballet will perform the principal roles of the ballet, while dance students can be seen as fairies, dolls, Red Indians, lost boys and mermaids.
Over 300 children attended an audition earlier this year, but only 60 were chosen.
This ballet follows the story of Peter Pan, the character created by Scottish novelist and play-wright JM Barrie.
Peter Pan, a mischievous boy who can fly and who never ages, spends his never-ending child-hood as the leader of his gang, the Lost Boys, on the enchanted island, Neverland.
Peter interacts with mermaids, fairies, pirates and occasionally ordinary children from the world outside Neverland.
Additional choreography will be done by Lauren Rogers, senior soloist with the Cape Town City Ballet and outreach teacher for the Amy Biehl foundation.
The role of Peter Pan will be danced by Alex Vivien Riding.
Peter’s fairy friend, Tinkerbell is danced by Laura Bosenberg and Lauren Rogers performs the role of Wendy.
• Performances are in the Artscape Opera House from August 8-12.
Ticket prices range between R90-R150. Book at Computicket.