The Australian Ballet has announced the return of Storytime Ballet: Cinderella, with the much-loved family production touring to Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne across the summer school holidays.
Created by choreographer and former Artistic Director David McAllister AC, Storytime Ballet: Cinderella is designed especially for children and families, introducing young audiences to classical ballet through a warm, interactive theatre experience. With a running time of under an hour, the production is shaped for first-time theatregoers, while still offering the polish, musicality and theatrical detail of a major ballet company.
The production follows Cinderella’s journey from the kitchen to the Royal Ball, complete with a fairy godmother, sparkling ballgown, glass slippers, wicked stepsisters and a prince in search of the mysterious guest who disappears at midnight. A narrator guides children through the story and encourages them to join in from their seats, with young audience members invited to arrive dressed in their favourite ballet-inspired outfits and bring their own sense of magic to the performance.
The tour opens at the Sydney Opera House’s Drama Theatre from 17 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, before travelling to Adelaide Festival Centre’s Dunstan Playhouse from 7 to 10 January, Brisbane Powerhouse from 14 to 16 January, and Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from 20 to 23 January. With close to 39,000 attendees in the 2025/26 season, Storytime Ballet has become a firm holiday favourite for families, and early booking is recommended.
The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg said the production offers a joyful introduction to the art form.
“Storytime Ballet is a wonderful introduction to the art form for young audiences,” Hallberg said. “Cinderella is one of the world’s most beloved fairy tales.”
“Filled with humour, heart and transformation, Cinderella is the perfect story to inspire imagination and create lasting memories for families experiencing ballet together. For many children, Storytime Ballet becomes the beginning of a lifelong connection to dance and live performance,” he added.
The production features Sergei Prokofiev’s score in a recorded performance by Orchestra Victoria, conducted by The Australian Ballet’s Music Director and Chief Conductor Jonathan Lo. Costume design is by Louisa Fitzgerald, set design by Ishan Vivekanantham, lighting design by Jon Buswell and illusion design by Lee Cohen.
The Australian Ballet has also announced additional accessible performances across the tour, supported by Presenting Partner Barbie. These include AUSLAN-interpreted performances in each city and an Audio Described performance at the Sydney Opera House.
Tickets for Storytime Ballet: Cinderella go on sale Thursday 9 July.