Mum to the musical’s leading lady Verity Hunt-Ballard, Mrs Hunt is tutor to the eight young actors who play the Banks children, including Brisbane’s Zoe Clarke, 13, and Jai Bofinger, 10.

“It’s really a lovely experience for me, very special,” Mrs Hunt said.

Asked whether her teaching manner resembled that of Mary Poppins or the disciplinarian Ms Andrews in the show, her charges didn’t hesitate.

“She’s Mary Poppins!” Jai beamed. Zoe added: “She’s really lovely.”

Verity is thrilled to have her on the scene. “It’s really nice. I moved away from Adelaide when I was 19 … and never really lived in the same city as my parents as an adult.”