Friday, 13 February 2015

UK Première of Romeo and Juliet

Festival Theatre Edinburgh to host the UK Première of Romeo and Juliet (Thu 26 - Sat 28 February 2015)

Get swept up in the passion and heartbreak as Northern Ballet brings the UK Première of Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Les Ballets de Monte Carlo’s production of Romeo and Juliet to Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 26 – 28 February 2015. 


A treasured classic re-imagined, this is a timeless ballet for a modern audience.

Much as I love Northern Ballet, I fear that I have to call them on this hyperbole. Romeo and Juliet  is not really a 'timeless' ballet - it was first choreographed around a century ago, and I have doubts about the value of the story - it is about a couple of idiots who didn't think ahead. 


Set to Prokofiev’s unforgettable score, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Romeo and Juliet is a modern interpretation of a classical ballet, capturing the raw sensuality and the very essence of the story as Romeo and Juliet embark on their impulsive love affair. As the lovers are caught in the throes of ecstatic joy and crushing heartbreak, this production will see Northern Ballet’s dancers at their dramatic best bringing the intensity and extreme emotions to the stage.

Romeo and Juliet will be Northern Ballet’s first collaboration with acclaimed choreographer Maillot, who recently created a new version of The Taming of the Shrew for the Bolshoi Ballet in July. This is the first time that this production of Romeo and Juliet has been performed in the UK and by a British company. The UK Première will take place in Edinburgh followed by performances at Leeds Grand Theatre in March and a national tour in 2016.

I am sold on this Jean-Christophe Maillot choreographer character. The Bolshoi are my favourite company in the world (ballet section), mainly because of some half-remembered shows I saw in the 1980s. They are, in my head, a guarantee of the tough, masculine ballet of Russia. 

Jean-Christophe Maillot said: ‘In this adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, my primary objective is to sincerely portray the powerful emotions to the audience so that they share in the passionate love of the young couple and take a journey with them. Interpreting the narrative is a specialism of Northern Ballet and for this reason I am curious and excited to see how the dancers will respond to the choreography and I am honoured that they will be the first British company to perform one of my ballets.’

Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Nixon OBE, said: ‘Jean-Christophe Maillot's adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is an inspired contemporary response to the classic play and our talented dancers are ideally suited to interpret his wonderful language. This is a new production for our audiences to experience and reflect upon and I am delighted that we will be the first British company to present Jean-Christophe Maillot's work.’


Romeo and Juliet – Tour Dates
Edinburgh Festival Theatre                                          Leeds Grand Theatre
26 – 28 February 2015                                                    4 – 12 March 2015                                           
Box Office 0131 529 6000                                              Box Office 0844 848 2700
                                         

1 comment :

  1. Really interesting lines thanks for this
    i always read this types of ballet blogs
    but your blog really nice thanks .


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