Butterfly Effect is a ballet born of choreographer Alice Topp’s love of the tragic reach of Madame Butterfly and the music of Giacomo Puccini.

Her protagonist, Charlie, however, is no passive heroine of balletic fairytale but a contemporary woman: a mother, a medic and an Army Reservist, facing the consequences of that difficult mix.

Alexa Tuzil as Charlie in The Butterfly Effect. Photo © Sergey Pevnev

Before the curtain rises, the auditorium fills with the sounds of birdsong, rainfall and helicopter blades thumping. As it lifts to the shimmer of harp and strings, we see a quintessential landscape: a tall eucalyptus tree, dark hills in the background, vast sky, soft West Australian light and a sense of early summer in the air. (Set and lighting design: Jon Buswell; music after Puccini: Jessica Wells.)

The ensuing scenes trace the relationship and wedding of Charlie (Alexa Tuzil) and Jordan (Juan Carlos Osma) and their friendship with Katie (Indiana Scott) and Ben (Heath Kolka). All four are subtle dancers, creating credible and well-devised characters.

The duets between Charlie and Jordan are choreographically intricate, often so slowly modulated you feel you can see the sinews...