Steve Exeter's short film Òran na h-Eala (The Song of the Swan) is inspired by the Scottish ballerina Moira Shearer, and her decision to star in the 1948 Powell and Pressburger film The Red Shoes. Starring Shannon Davidson as Shearer, Alastair Thomson Mills as Michael Powell, Alec Westwood as Emeric Pressburger and Nicole Nelrose as … Continue reading Review: Òran na h-Eala
Reviews and Reflections
Review: Carlos Acosta’s Classical Selection, BRB2, 2023 Tour
The artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet 2 with Artistic Director Carlos Acosta. Photo Drew Tommons. The Birmingham Royal Ballet 2 is currently travelling across the UK on their inaugural tour. Featuring young dancers performing a diverse repertory (as the name of the show implies, selected by BRB Director Carlo Acosta), the tour perfectly showcases the … Continue reading Review: Carlos Acosta’s Classical Selection, BRB2, 2023 Tour
Review: The Great Gatsby, Northern Ballet, Thursday 23rd March 2023
The Great Gatsby is a seminal work of American literature, and sets a defining image of American culture in the Roaring 20s. The novel has been studied by many, including myself, who spent hours analysing the novel for my English Literature A-Level. If there's one thing I know about the book, it's that it's a … Continue reading Review: The Great Gatsby, Northern Ballet, Thursday 23rd March 2023
Reflections on Sleeping Beauty, The Royal Ballet
Fumi Kaneko and William Bracewell as Aurora and Prince Florimund in Sleeping Beauty. Photo by Rachel Hollings. On the 4th March 2023 I visited the Royal Opera House to see the ballet Sleeping Beauty. This was my first time seeing this ballet live, although I had watched multiple videos of it, including some of the … Continue reading Reflections on Sleeping Beauty, The Royal Ballet
Review: Tosca, Opera North, Saturday 28th January 2023
Robert Hayward as Scarpia and the Company of Tosca. Photo James Glossop. I can confidently say I am someone who knows very little about opera. I know some of the most famous operas, some of the most famous music, and some of the most famous performers. I had never seen an opera live before going … Continue reading Review: Tosca, Opera North, Saturday 28th January 2023
Review: South Pacific, UK Tour, Nottingham Theatre Royal
Gina Beck (Nellie Forbush) and Julian Ovenden (Emile de Becque) in Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. Photo by Johan Persson. I barely knew anything about South Pacific before I sat down to watch it, and most of what I did know was the basics. The famous songs (Happy Talk, I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right … Continue reading Review: South Pacific, UK Tour, Nottingham Theatre Royal
Review: An Evening of Music and Dance, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Saturday 7th May 2022
I was happy to sit down in the Royal Concert Hall on Saturday evening. Last time I was there it was to see School of Rock, and it was nice to see the beauty of the auditorium without a musical stage and backdrop set up. But more selfishly, I was sitting in the front row … Continue reading Review: An Evening of Music and Dance, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Saturday 7th May 2022
Review: Scènes de Ballet/A Month in the Country/Rhapsody, The Royal Ballet
Marianela Nuñez and Matthew Ball as Natalia and Beliaev in A Month in the Country, 2019. Photo Tristram Kenton/ROH. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Frederick Ashton Foundation, the Royal Ballet have mounted a triple bill comprising of works by their founding choreographer. These works originate from 1948, 1976, and 1980. One earlier masterpiece, … Continue reading Review: Scènes de Ballet/A Month in the Country/Rhapsody, The Royal Ballet
Review: Casanova, Northern Ballet
Dancers of the Northern Ballet in Casanova. Photo by Emma Kauldhar. Date: 26th March 2022 (Matinee) Venue: Lyceum Theatre, SheffieldCasanova: Lorenzo Trossello Cardinal de Bernis: Andrew TomlinsonFather Baldi: Harris BeattieSeminarians and Servants of the Inquisition: Sean Bates, Filippo de Vilio, Jonathan Hanks, George Liang, Bruno Serraclara, Archie ShermanThree Inquisitors: Antoni Cañellas Artigues, Gavin McCaig, Joseph … Continue reading Review: Casanova, Northern Ballet
Madeleine's Stage 