Seventy Hunter Valley Dance Centre students between four and 16 – and 11 musicians from Linuwel School – will bring the doll’s story to life and depict its journey through three generations of the same family.

It begins in the present day before stepping back in time and reliving the journey the doll made from England to Australia. 

Dance teacher Suzanne Pettit, who created the production after finding the doll at her mother-in-law Sheila Pettit’s home two years ago, said it offered several messages for the performers and the audience.

“I want to try to make people aware that ballet is a means to create and communicate and share stories,” she said.

“It’s also helping the children to learn what life was like back then.

“It’s a journey of 12,000 miles. It starts out in 2016 at a sleep over and the mother brings the doll in as a gift to her daughter – then it goes back to the 1920s in England and follows the doll’s journey to Australia on a steam ship.”

Mrs Pettit has incorporated a range of dance styles into the three- hour production including ballet, folk dance, rock n roll and disco.

A scene on the ship, where the third class passengers hold a party, allowed Mrs Pettit to showcase the talented musicians at Linuwel School.

The musicians play a range of instruments from the viola and violin to the cello and flute. 

“They are the band who play for the dance, it’s a lovely musical ensemble,” she said.

“The dance gives children a glimpse of what it was like travelling on a ship in those days, and what it was like being in third class.”

The plot has also incorporated a ballet company into the story, which happens to be travelling on the ship.

Mrs Pettit’s mother-in-law, who is 93, was thrilled to hear the doll’s story had been brought to life. 

“She’s absolutely thrilled about it,” she said.

The performance will be held at Cessnock Performing Arts Centre between 2pm and 5pm.

Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for concession and $25 for children and are available at http://www.cessnockperformingartscentre.com.au