Usually it is the big Broadway productions that head Down Under years after their initial debut. However on the odd occasion, there is the theatrical production that travels to Australia immediately before heading to the Big Apple. The Little Prince, a stage production based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s 1945 book of the same name, will be doing just that. Following the show’s encore West HQ season at the Sydney Coliseum Theatre from 1 January 2022, the dance, aerial acrobatics and video mapping technology will be headed to the States.
In a statement announcing the next stage of The Little Prince’s international tour, Australian-born Producer of Broadway Entertainment Group, Liz Koops, has stated:
In the words of the Little Prince, one sees clearly only with the heart. This dynamic production will open hearts and tug at the emotions of theatergoers at a time when all of us are searching for human connection.
We are particularly touched that The Little Prince has captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences at home. Our sell-out engagement at Sydney Opera House earlier this year confirmed this uplifting escapist story certainly resonates in modern times. Australian audience appreciation has been key to the early and ongoing success the show has enjoyed to date
We are so grateful for the warm Aussie reception received and as the first major international theatre production that will perform in Sydney following recent lockdown we are thrilled to be able to present – due to overwhelming demand – direct from Paris – a strictly limited 3 week return season at the Sydney Coliseum Theatre. It is very special to have the opportunity to be able to bring this stunning first-class theatre production to even more Australian arts lovers and families before the bright lights of Broadway.
For those unfamiliar with the original work, The Little Prince follows the tale of an aviator lost in the desert. On his journey he encounters the Little Prince, who has flown from one planet to another, meeting compelling characters in what they pitch is a “vivid dreamlike universe of dance, costumes, music, acrobatics, and ground-breaking video mapping technology that immerses audiences in an extraordinary adventure”.
The creative team behind The Little Prince includes director and choreographer Anne Tournié, with libretto adaptation and co-direction by Chris Mouron; original music by Terry Truck; video design by Marie Jumelin; costume design by Peggy Housset; lighting design by Stéphane Fritsch; sound design by Tristan Viscogliosi; hair and makeup by Carmen Arbues Miro; and props by Aureìlie Gandilhon.
The show’s international company includes Lionel Zalachas as The Little Prince, Aurélien Bednarek as The Aviator, Chris Mouron as The Narrator, Laurisse Sulty as The Rose, Adrien Picaut as The Businessman, Antony Cesar as The Vain Man, Andrzej Aleksander Kamienski as The Drunkard, Marcin Janiak as The Lamplighter, Srilata Ray as The Serpent, and Dylan Barone as The Fox. Marie Meuge and Joan Bertrand are the company swings.
