 The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is regarded as one of the most famous classic children’s stories, selling tens of millions of copies around the world since it was first published in 1943. The Tower Theatre has now brought it to the stage in a version adapted and directed by Angharad Ormond. It tells the story of the Aviator (Matt Tylianakis) who, after crashing his plane, meets the mysterious “Little Prince” (Thisakya Dias), who claims to be on a journey of exploration from his home plane “Asteroid B 612”, which the Prince then recounts to the aviator.
 Any version of this story will largely rise and fall on its ability to bring this epic intergalactic journey to the stage, as well as communicate the sense of discovery and whimsy, and it’s safe to say that it delivers in spades. From the opening moments when we see the Aviator’s plane flying, to the various people that the Prince meets, the ensemble (Sam Alan, Flavia Di Saverio, Paul Graves, Cicely Halkes-Wellstead, Simona Hughes, James Johnston, Sam D’Leon, Janet South and Matt Tylianakis) work together effectively as a team. This is helped by the ingenious use of props (Isaac Insley), colourful costumes (designed by Roxanne Roberts), lighting (Samuel Littley), sound and music (Paul Graves and Tamara Douglas-Morris, as well as choreography (Nevena Stojkov).
 The acting is also appropriately larger than life with Dias brimming with naiveite and enthusiasm, while Tylianakis is also excellent as the adult who never quite lost his inner child (a bit like Saint-Exupéry himself). The cast also get to shine in their individual roles, especially Cicely Halkes-Wellstead as the imperious Flower and Janet South as the Businessman, who is too busy counting the number of stars that they “own” to look at them.
 Running at just under ninety minutes, this is a charming production, with an important moral about not losing that sense of innocence and wonder, that will appeal from children from the ages of five to eight-five, and deserves a wider audience.
Additional members of the crew include Ragan Keefer as Stage Manager, Isobel Quiroz as ASM, Natasha Miah and Ian Hoare as Assistant Directors, Angela Large as Costume Assistant, Matthew Ibbotson as Sound Operator and Chris Frawley as Lighting Operator.
Photography by Robert Piwko
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