Adelaide will host the world premiere of The Australian Ballet’s major revival of Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella in September 2027, marking a significant moment for the city’s cultural calendar and the company’s 65th anniversary.
The production anchors an extensive celebration of ballet running from 1 to 11 September at Adelaide Festival Centre and across the precinct. It brings together a full company of dancers, elaborate design, and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra performing Prokofiev’s beloved score live.
A landmark revival
Ashton’s Cinderella, a three-act ballet, is considered one of the five essential full-length works in the international repertoire. It premiered at London’s Covent Garden in 1948, with its Australian premiere by The Australian Ballet in 1972 starring South Australia’s own Sir Robert Helpmann. The company’s last full staging was in 1980.
For this revival, Kristian Frederikson’s exquisite 1972 costume designs will be recreated alongside new sets by Richard Roberts. The production forms part of the Ashton Worldwide Celebration (2024–2028), with The Australian Ballet the only company staging a full-length Ashton ballet in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Australian Ballet Artistic Director David Hallberg said: “To bring this revival of Cinderella to Adelaide in The Australian Ballet’s 65th anniversary year is incredibly special. Adelaide holds a special place for our company, and we have a deep appreciation for the audiences who have supported us here over many years.”
A city-wide celebration
Adelaide Festival Centre and The Australian Ballet have curated an immersive program of events surrounding the premiere. Highlights include:
- Ballet en Masse — Festival Plaza transforms into an open-air dance studio as The Australian Ballet welcomes thousands of participants to a free ballet class for all ages and abilities
- Cinderella: Origins of a Fairytale — a major exhibition featuring costumes and rare collection objects, including the original coach from the 1972 Frederick Ashton production
- Talking Ballet — a series of conversations at Adelaide Festival Centre’s Quartet Bar and Angry Penguin restaurant
- Workshops and classes — conducted by The Australian Ballet in the Festival Centre Rehearsal Room
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould said: “This once-in-a-generation moment showcases Adelaide Festival Centre as a venue where major cultural works are not simply hosted but launched, cementing South Australia’s place in the national touring circuit.”
Supporting the arts
Deputy Premier Kyam Maher noted that thousands of South Australians of all ages participate in ballet through classes, performances and appreciation of the art form. “Ballet lovers now have a unique chance to take part in a mass ballet spectacle with The Australian Ballet on Festival Plaza,” he said.
The production of Cinderella has been made possible through the generosity of The Australian Ballet’s giving community, led by South Australian philanthropists Dr Pamela Wall AO and the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation. The broader celebration, including Ballet en Masse and the exhibition, is supported by the Government of South Australia and Adelaide Festival Centre.
Cinderella runs from 1 to 11 September 2027 at Adelaide Festival Centre.
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