The faith and insight shown by The MacMillan Estate in re-partnering ascendant Queensland Ballet talents as star-crossed lovers in Manon has again proven doubly rewarding.

In 2019, estate stager Julie Lincoln and Principal Répétiteur Robert Tewsley bestowed opening night honours for Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet on QB’s then-Soloists Mia Heathcote and Patricio Revé. This inspired casting reinvigorated the familiar story through the pair’s summoning of actual youthful ardour, alongside palpable chemistry. This payoff was two-fold, gratifying audiences and scoring Heathcote and Revé onstage curtain call promotions by Artistic Director Li Cunxin.

Mia Heathcote and Patricio Revé in Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, Queensland Ballet, 2022. Photo © David Kelly

History repeated itself on the opening night of Manon. Another arc of love at first sight ending in tragedy – but with much more character intensity, depth and nuance in between – culminated in the Senior Soloists deservedly being elevated to the ultimate status of Principal as they took their bows.

The last time Brisbane audiences saw Manon was in 2014, presented by The Australian Ballet as the sole local company with staging rights. With Li having been a former AB...