Ballet – Cultivated

The Nutcracker

James Goffin — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 23:06:10 +0000

The Nutcracker is as traditional a part of a theatre Christmas as panto, and Northern Ballet’s revival keeps everything in its place.

Romeo and Juliet

James Goffin — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 00:02:55 +0000

Verona is anything but fair in this dark and challenging reimagining of the tale of two young lovers.

Ballet Central

James Goffin — Fri, 03 May 2019 14:57:44 +0000

This varied and engaging showcase from one of the country’s leading ballet schools is a treat for ballet newbies and aficionados alike.

Cinderella

James Goffin — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 22:06:35 +0000

There has been a drastic evolution in the Russian State Ballet of Siberia’s touring performances.

Cinderella

James Goffin — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 19:44:43 +0000

This may be Cinders, but there is no pumpkin in sight – the fairy godmother is a male angel, the carriage a motorbike and sidecar, and the ball is at the Cafe de Paris in the midst of the London Blitz.

Casanova

James Goffin — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 19:05:03 +0000

This sumptuous new ballet focuses on Italy’s famous romancer, seeking to recast him as a man as much of letters and emotion as of energetic rutting.

The Red Shoes

James Goffin — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 18:59:09 +0000

Based loosely on the Powell and Pressburger classic film, this reimagining of the reimagined Hans Christian Andersen fairytale is a typically stylish Matthew Bourne affair.

La Fille Mal Gardée

James Goffin — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 20:11:09 +0000

Cross dressing, silly costumes, and even dafter slapstick – is this another Theatre Royal pantomime? Oh no it is isn’t! It’s The Russian State Ballet of Siberia’s take on one of the oldest established ballets.

Beauty & The Beast

James Goffin — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 19:21:31 +0000

As with most fairytales there are some mixed messages in this Northern Ballet version of the story of the vainglorious prince turned to a monster by a slighted fairy.

Giselle

James Goffin — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 21:14:21 +0000

One of the spookiest tales in ballet, Giselle tells the tale of the titular peasant girl, who dies of a broken heart when she discovers her lover – the disguised Count Albrecht – is set to marry another.

The Nutcracker

James Goffin — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 21:03:59 +0000

Tinsel bright and shiny this Northern Ballet production of The Nutcracker is a pleasantly sweet introduction to the festive season.

Coppelia

James Goffin — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 16:02:09 +0000

Coppelia is certainly one of the latter, with a frothy and entertaining story of a pair of young lovers split up by an all-too-convincing toymaker’s doll, a high-spirited house break, attempted death by magic and – finally – a marriage and presumably happiness ever after.

The Nutcracker

James Goffin — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:31:06 +0000

The Nutcracker is a Christmas tale of a young girl whose eponymous present comes to life, but this Russian State Ballet of Siberia production felt more like Boxing Day leftovers.

Nutcracker!

James Goffin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:05:39 +0000

If there’s one phrase that describes Matthew Bourne’s imaginative retelling of the Nutcracker, it’s “oral feast”.

Romeo and Juliet

James Goffin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:53:03 +0000

It’s one of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, a timeless story of tragic love. Moscow City Ballet’s performance of Romeo and Juliet is robbed of the famous poetry, substituting for it Prokofiev’s score and Victor Smirnov-Golovanov’s skilful direction and choreography.