The performance of Peter Pan The Never Ending Story at Glasgow’s Hydro Arena in January was coming to its conclusion as it had done on every other night of the world tour.

Suddenly, the actor playing Peter Pan, Dutchman Sandor Sturbl, raised his hands and stopped the show. The cast exchanged confused glances. The audience were puzzled. Had something gone wrong? Had he forgotten his lines? No, the show was stopped for love.

Sandor, 28, chose that moment to propose to his 23-year-old girlfriend and co-star, Lilly-Jane Young.

“When Sandor stopped the show, I thought there was a technical problem,” says Lilly-Jane, who plays Wendy in the music and acrobatic show. “But when he called me by my real name rather than my stage name, and he got down on one knee, the penny dropped and I started to cry. It was the best moment of my life.”

As the YouTube video of the moment shows, the astounded audience and cast roared their approval.

“They were going crazy,” smiles Lilly-Jane. “It was an arena full of happiness. The audience certainly got a lot more than they bargained for that night.  I still can’t believe that I am so lucky to have such a wonderful man who would put himself out on the line in front of thousands of people to ask me to spend my life with him.”

The show itself is described as ‘the biggest, most spectacular, most glittering, most technically sophisticated and most magical show ever staged in the region. A mix of theatre, illusion, circus, blockbuster movie and rock spectacular rolled into one with 50 dancers, stuntman, acrobats, magicians and actors from 10 different countries.’

And with Luc Petit, who worked on Cirque du Soleil for more than a decade, as well as creating the opening ceremony at Euro 2000, at the helm, you know that isn’t hyperbole. 

March 5 to 13
Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, 7pm, Dhs195. Tel: (04) 4573212. Metro: World Trade Centre. platinumlist.net