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The Happy Prince Postponement FAQs
Will The Happy Prince be included in my subscription in future?
We are absolutely committed to bringing The Happy Prince to our audiences. We hope to welcome Graeme Murphy back to our studios later this year to complete The Happy Prince for its world-premiere season in 2020.
Will I receive new tickets for the replacement productions in 2019?
Existing ticket holders will automatically be assigned the same seats for the replacement production in their city. The performance date, time and venue will also remain the same.
Existing ticket holders will be asked to confirm this change, where possible, prior to the new tickets being posted.
Existing ticket holders will receive an email when their new tickets are printed with more details regarding expected delivery timeframes.
What do I do with my existing tickets?
Your existing ticket for The Happy Prince is now void. Please destroy this ticket upon receipt of your replacement to avoid any confusion or difficulties at the venue.
Will I have the same seats for the replacement production?
Yes. Existing ticket holders will automatically be issued with tickets for the same date, time and seats for the replacement production as they had for The Happy Prince.
Will my performance time and date be the same?
Yes. Existing ticket holders will automatically be issued with tickets for the same date, time and seats for the replacement production as they had for The Happy Prince.
I had exchanged my tickets for The Happy Prince – will this change affect my exchange into the replacement production?
No. If you had already arranged an exchange to a new performance of The Happy Prince, your replacement tickets will match the performance date, time and seat location you exchanged into.
Can I exchange my tickets online?
Once you receive your new ticket with the replacement production details, you will be able to exchange your tickets online for performances within the same season. As tickets for The Happy Prince are now void, you will not be able to exchange these original tickets.
Why are Melbourne and Sydney being given different replacement productions?
To avoid repetition. Maina Gielgud’s Giselle was most recently performed as a Melbourne-exclusive season in 2018. Sydney audiences have not seen this production since 2015.
Similarly, Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella was performed as a Sydney-exclusive season in 2018, and has not been seen by Melbourne audiences since 2015.
I bought tickets for my child, is the replacement production suitable for kids?
Ballet is a wonderful introduction to the world of beauty and make-believe, and we love it when children attend The Australian Ballet’s performances.
Every child is different, and whether they’re old enough to enjoy a performance depends on a range of factors, including how long they’re able to sit happily and quietly, the time of the show, and – most importantly – the type of ballet.
Both Giselle and Cinderella are narrative ballets that can be enjoyed by the whole family. More information regarding the individual ballets – including descriptions of the plot and design, the duration, and any notes about adult themes – is available here.
If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of your replacement production, please call our customer experience team on 1300 369 741.
I do not wish to attend the replacement production, what are my options?
If you do not wish to attend your allocated replacement production, please call our customer experience team on 1300 369 741 or email tickets@australianballet.com.au to discuss exchanges or refund options.
I have tickets for a Step Inside event during The Happy Prince Season, will this still go ahead?
Yes. If you have booked Step Inside programs, including Behind the Scenes and McAllister in Conversation, these will not be affected by the change.
“High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince …”
Oscar Wilde’s lyrical story of a statue who gives his all to help humanity is full of poetic beauty, heartbreak, sly humour and sharp social commentary. In The Happy Prince, Graeme Murphy, who created The Australian Ballet’s acclaimed modern interpretations of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, turns his flair for transformative storytelling to Wilde’s moving tale.
The possibilities for dance in Wilde’s characters – the golden Prince, his loyal friend the Swallow, the seductive Reed, the pitiful Match Girl – will be fabulously realised in Murphy’s distinctive choreographic style.
The Happy Prince features a specially commissioned score from the renowned composer Christopher Gordon, who composed the scores for the films Mao’s Last Dancer, Ladies in Black and Master and Commander, alongside the work of award-winning artist and director Kim Carpenter, who adapted the story and created the colourful design for the ballet.
Playful and poignant, The Happy Prince will capture children’s imagination with its vivid spectacle and adults’ attention with its timely message: a kind heart shines brighter than gold.
Based on the story by Oscar Wilde,
Adapted by Kim Carpenter and Graeme Murphy
Choreography Graeme Murphy
Creative Associate Janet Vernon
Composer Christopher Gordon
Set and costume design Kim Carpenter
Lighting design Damien Cooper
Projection design Fabian Astore
The Happy Prince is generously supported by The Robert and Elizabeth Albert Music Fund, The Dame Margaret Scott Fund for Choreographers and the Barry Kay Memorial Scholarship.
We thank Kim Carpenter’s Theatre of Image for supporting the creation of The Happy Prince.
WE THANK OUR PARTNERS
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Commissioning Partner
