Meet the Peters!

As the courageous young scout in Peter and the Wolf, Peter is guaranteed to delight families of all ages with his adventurous nature and wily ways. Enter Sean Ferenczi, Josh Fagan, and Taron Geyl: the three young dancers in Queensland Ballet Academy’s Pre-Professional Program who are taking the role by storm. In the lead up to this much-anticipated premiere season, we met with the trio for a round of quick questions about the season.

What do you enjoy most about playing Peter?

Josh: For me, the best part about playing Peter is interacting with all the other characters around me. Peter is such a complex character with many different thoughts and feelings that need to be portrayed on stage, and having all my friends around me, also in character, makes it so enjoyable to develop and grow Peter's character as well.

Sean: I love delving into Peter's mind to explore his world view as he interacts with others and deals with the consequences of his actions. He's curious, a bit naive, but empathetic for those around him.

Taron: What I enjoy the most about playing Peter is really immersing myself in the character and the world that Peter lives in. It is such a fun and playful environment and allows me to break from reality.

The role of Peter uses acting along with dance to enhance the story. How have you worked to develop this skill?

Josh: I tried to really understand what Peter was feeling and how he would react, as well as thinking about how I would feel in the same situations Peter finds himself in. It's crucial to incorporate a bit of you into the character for it to feel authentic.

Sean: I enjoy empathizing with the character and trying to understand the thought processes behind his actions. I try to think of what life is like for Peter behind the scenes to develop his character more. What are his hobbies? What's his relationship with the Grandfather? I have also spent quite a bit of time in front of the mirror making lots of reaction faces to make sure they could be read from the audience.

Taron: Through the process of delving into Peter’s character, I have tried to consider his thought process throughout the story and the reasons for his actions. It was also very important to understand his relationship with the different characters in the story as this helped me understand the character on a deeper level. I’ve also considered how I might react in the situations Peter finds himself in, as authenticity is essential for playing the role. I have spent countless hours experimenting with different gestures and facial expressions to see what truly fits the essence of the story.

The Pre-Professional Program (PPP) is a final training year program that utilises the Academy’s invaluable connection with Queensland Ballet. As a PPP, how does it feel to be starring in a premiere Queensland Ballet production?

Josh: It is such a privilege to perform for Queensland Ballet. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to represent the company that I've watched and looked up to for so many years.

Sean: I'm super grateful for the opportunity I've been given to perform Peter. I am excited to be sharing Peter's journey with audiences and I hope to get the younger generation excited about ballet.

Taron: I feel very honoured and proud to be starring in a Queensland Ballet production. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to perform in such a fantastic ballet choreographed by Greg Horsman, and can’t wait to share this incredible experience with the audience. After watching the Company for years, I feel so privileged to represent it.

What will you take away from this exciting opportunity?

Josh: I have learned so much throughout this process such as storytelling, how to work and dance with props, and how to interact with and engage a live audience.

Taron: My main take away from this experience would be the acting skills that I have developed, as I immersed myself in the character Peter. Another take away would be learning to use props effectively to portray the character and story.

Sean: It has been a pleasure working with choreographer Greg Horsman and our teachers to develop my artistry and ability to tell a story. Sharing this story-driven ballet with younger audiences is a very special opportunity as I have the chance to introduce them to the wonderful art form of ballet.

By Cassandra Houghton