Loughlan Prior’s The Firebird – a fairytale of a desert world where water is infinitely precious – was a huge hit for the RNZB in 2021. The national tour, which enjoyed sell-out performances in Wellington and Auckland, was cut short due to Covid restrictions, so 2025 is the first time that The Firebird has been seen in the South Island. Tracy Grant Lord’s stunning designs, coupled with immersive projections by POW Studios, provide the backdrop for Prior’s expressive choreography, all built on the foundation of Stravinsky’s epic score.
The Firebird will be paired with one-act ballet My Brilliant Career, based on the novel by Miles Franklin, and familiar to many through the 1979 film starring Judy Davis and Sam Neill. The ballet was created in 2023 for Queensland Ballet by UK choreographer Cathy Marston, in demand throughout the ballet world for her imaginative and emotionally compelling storytelling. We are delighted to bring Marston’s work to Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time, and to share her fiercely intelligent, character-driven choreography with audiences who love dance, theatre and a classic coming-of-age story.
Performances in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch will feature live orchestra.
Choreography - The Firebird
Loughlan Prior
Music - The Firebird
Igor Stravinsky
Set & Costume Design - The Firebird
Tracy Grant Lord
Lighting Design - The Firebird
Jon Buswell
Projections - The Firebird
POW Studios
Choreography - MBC
Cathy Marston
Music - MBC
Matthew Hindson
Set & Costume Design - MBC
David Fleischer
Lighting Design - MBC
Paul Jackson
Video Design - MBC
Craig Wilkinson
Conductor
Hamish McKeich
Orchestras
Orchestra Wellington, Auckland Philharmonia, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra