The Happy Prince by The Australian Ballet Company

Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince is a very short allegorical story about compassion versus contempt and greed. At the time allegedly written for children, it also carried a potent message for adults, pointing a finger at the inequities of Victorian England, where the rich were filthy rich and the poor starved to death. Likewise, choreographer Graeme Murphy has endeavoured to appeal to both child and adult in his 90-minute ballet about the statue of The Happy Prince and the Little Swallow who helps him give to the poor by stripping his statue of jewels and gold.

This is a visually striking ballet. Set and costume designs by Kim Carpenter, who also worked with Murphy in adapting the story, are almost cartoonish; simply drawn, they have a skilful clarity that captures the essence of the child-like fantasy of the story.

Scenic art by Brendan Pierce from Scenic Studios in Melbourne.