Queensland Ballet brings one of the world’s most beloved fairy-tales to the Lyric Theatre at QPAC, and its production of Cinderella is a magical experience for all ages. The ballet adheres to the classic fairy-tale; Cinderella, scorned by her stepmother and teased by her spoiled stepsisters, attends the royal ball in disguise and wins the heart of the Prince with the help of her fairy godmother. Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella formed part of Artistic Director Li Cunxin’s inaugural season with Queensland Ballet in 2013 and was the first of Stevenson’s choreographic works that the company shared with Australian audiences. First premiering in 1970, Stevenson’s interpretation is one of the most frequently staged productions in modern times, and Queensland Ballet brings out the best of its humour and romance.

Stevenson’s choreography captures perfectly the daydreaming and frustration of Cinderella’s servitude, and the drama of her departure from the ball at midnight. The ballet is packed with action, but the pacing felt slightly off-kilter, with a few of the most magical moments sweeping by when I wanted them to linger. The transformation of the pumpkin into a magnificent horse-drawn carriage and of Cinderella’s rags into a sparkling ball gown is the climax of...