The Peasant Prince

A Monkey Baa Theatre Company production.
Based on the book by Li Cunxin, Illustrated by Anne Spudvilas. Adapted for the stage by Eva Di Cesare, Sandie Eldridge and Tim McGarry.

The children’s version of Li Cunxin’s iconic autobiography, Mao’s Last Dancer, The Peasant Prince tells a remarkable true story of a 10-year-old peasant boy’s journey from impoverished rural China to the international dance scene. This is a story of courage, resilience and unwavering hope.
Li, a 10-year-old peasant boy is plucked from his village in rural China and sent to a ballet academy in the big city. He leaves everything and everyone he loves, including his family. Over years of gruelling training, this boy transforms from an impoverished peasant to a giant of the international dance scene. Li’s courage, resilience and unwavering hope for a better life for himself and his family make The Peasant Prince a story to ignite our own aspirations to be the best person we can be.
Audiences will be captivated by this very personal story, truly a 20th-century fairy tale.
Monkey Baa’s extraordinary production won Best Production at The Glugs and The Sydney Theatre Awards and a Drover’s Award for the Best Tour in 2016. Now it returns to enthral new, young audiences.