Preview: The Nutcracker at Newcastle Theatre Royal

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CHRISTMAS DREAMS COME TRUE AS NORTHERN BALLET BRINGS THE NUTCRACKER TO NEWCASTLE.

The Nutcracker

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 10^th – Saturday 14^th November 2015

Plus

Elves and The Shoemaker

Friday 13^th November 2015

Photo: Bill Cooper

This winter the ultimate family adventure comes to Newcastle Theatre Royal as Northern Ballet returns to the stage with the dazzling tale of one child’s Christmas dreams coming true, in festive season favourite The Nutcrackerfrom Tuesday 10^th – Saturday 14^th November 2015.

Photo: Bill Cooper

In the midst of a festive party, as the fire crackles and the pile of presents grows ever higher, Clara is caught up in the warmth and excitement of Christmas and becomes enthralled by her new Nutcracker doll. But, as the clock strikes midnight, her Nutcracker proves to be no ordinary toy and Clara is whisked away on the magical journey of a lifetime through a winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and the famous Sugar Plum Fairy.

Photo: Bill Cooper

Set to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker features choreography and beautiful costumes by Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director David Nixon OBE, stunning Regency style sets by Charles Cusick Smith and lighting by Mark Jonathan.

Photo: Bill Cooper

David Nixon OBE, said: “The Nutcracker is one of the world’s most popular classical ballets and holds a special place in the hearts of audiences young and old. We are delighted to once again revive this charming story and add that extra bit of sparkle to the festive season for audiences in Newcastle.”  

Photo: Bill Cooper

Northern Ballet will also stage a ballet specially aimed at children, when they perform Elves and The Shoemaker on Friday 13^thNovember at 12 noon and 2pm. With an original score, composed by Philip Feeney, Elves and The Shoemaker follows the fantastic sell-out success of Ugly Duckling and Three Little Pigs by Northern Ballet.

Photo: Bill Cooper

Creatives:

Choreography, Direction & Costume Design David Nixon OBE

Set DesignCharles Cusick Smith

Lighting DesignMark Jonathan

MusicPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Music DirectorJohn Pryce-Jones

Reduced Orchestration John Longstaff

Played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia

Tickets:

The Nutcracker is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Tuesday 10^thto Saturday 14^th November 2015, playing evenings at 7.30pm, matinees Thurs 2pm and Sat 2.30pm.

Tickets from £14.50 (save 50p per ticket online).

Elves and The Shoemaker plays on Friday 13^th November 2015 at 12 noonand 2pm. Tickets £8 adults and £6 children.

All tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.  

Preview: Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia at Darlington Civic Theatre

Three great ballet

masterpieces

The Russian StateBallet & Orchestra of Siberia

DarlingtonCivic Theatre

29 January - 1 February 2015.

Darlington Civic Theatre is delighted to welcome back to Theatre The Russian StateBallet & Orchestra of Siberiawith three great ballet masterpieces. Formed in 1981, The Russian State Ballet of Siberia has quickly established itself as one of Russia’s leading ballet companies and has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and unusual depth. The soloists and corps de ballet are superb and never fail to delight audiences with their breath-taking physical ability and dazzling costumes.

Coppélia

Thursday 29 January at 7.30pm

Every toy has a story, especially in this charming comedy of errors, a witty combination of antics and abracadabra, set in a doll maker’s workshop. This light-hearted tale of mistaken identity and confused lovers follows mischievous Swanilda, her impetuous suitor Franz and the eccentric toymaker Dr.Coppelius as they are brought to life by sparkling choreography and the animated score of Delibes. Coppélia is perfect for first-time ballet goers, families and everyone in between.

Swan Lake

Friday, 30 January at 7.30pm

The greatest romantic ballet of all time is brought to life by Tchaikovsky’s haunting and unforgettable score. From the impressive splendour of the Palace ballroom to the moon-lit lake where swans glide in perfect formation this compelling tale of tragic romance has it all. From Odile, the temptress in black tulle as she seduces the Prince by spinning with captivating precision to the spellbound purity of the swan queen, Odette as she flutters with emotional intensity, the dual role of Odette/Odile is one of ballet’s most unmissable technical challenges.

The Nutcracker

Saturday 31 January at 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Sunday 1 February 2.30pm

This most famous of fantasy ballets for all the family begins as night falls on Christmas Eve.

As snowflakes fall outside, the warm glow of the open fire sends flickering shadows across the boughs of the Christmas tree and all the presents beneath. When midnight strikes we are swept away to a fairy-tale world where nothing is quite as it seems, toy dolls spring to life, the Mouse-king and his mouse-army battle with the Nutcracker Prince and we travel through the Land of Snow to an enchanted place where the magic really begins...

Tour Trailer: Trailer Link

        Tickets:

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

Preview: The Nutcracker at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal

Scottish Ballet’s Spectacular Return To Newcastle’s Theatre Royal

The Nutcracker

Newcastle’s Theatre Royal

Wednesday 11 – Saturday 14 February.

A dazzling world of dancing snowflakes, sumptuous sweets and a spectacular sugar plum fairy await ballet fans at Newcastle Theatre Royal as Scottish Ballet returns with family favourite, Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker from Wednesday 11 – Saturday 14 February.

The production is a re-creation of the ballet originally produced over forty years ago by Peter Darrell, Scottish Ballet’s founding Artistic Director - a famous story-teller and an incredible dance-maker.

Erik Cavallari as the Prince

with Sophie Martin as the Sugar Plum Fairy

in Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker.

Photo: Andy Ross.

Scottish Ballet’s Artistic Director, Christopher Hampson, explained: “I’d known about Darrell’s production of The Nutcracker when I was a child. The images of the hanging baubles in Act Two was in just about every dance book there was. A Nutcracker production, for most ballet companies, is a very important part of the repertoire. It is normally the most performed work and needs to be something that will last for generations. Peter’s production had done that, but it needed to be rested so that it could be rediscovered again and brought back with a fresh perspective. It’s no accident that I’ve chosen a Darrell work to put at the very heart of our repertoire.”

Peter Darrell’s magical world of The Nutcracker has been re-imagined for today’s audiences by Olivier Award winning designer Lez Brotherston, adding sumptuous layers of plush Victoriana and traditional festive fare to the original 1973 production. “This production will be as close to Peter’s original as possible - the point of bringing the production back is to see his beautiful, intricate choreography,” adds Hampson.  “In terms of design, I asked Lez to take inspiration from the original designs. So, although they are different, there will still be a sense of the original production.

“The essence of this being a family production is the key element – and we’ve looked to gently incorporate some new ideas for a new audience. We’ve been working closely with the Peter Darrell Trust to ensure that our new production has Peter’s intentions at its heart.”

“The brief of the piece was unusual in that it existed before.  It’s Peter’s production and it still feels like that – as it should do,” says Designer Lez Brotherston. “Peter’s original designer was Philip Prowse and that feels quite meaningful to me personally.  Philip’s work was of great inspiration to me when I was at art school – he tutored me on my final-year designs and his influences have stayed with me.

“It’s still set in the 1870s and has that sumptuous, rich Victoriana feeling – and there are bustles and tutus of course, but some of the costumes have been adapted to better show off the dancers’ line and the choreography.

 “Those who have seen the production before will remember Darrell’s famous Land of Sweets – that’s still there although my sweeties are slightly different, and there’s a version of the Land of Snow too.  My interpretation of the house is also a little different and maybe there’ll be something special about the toys that the children receive as Christmas presents – you’ll have to come along to see.”

Darrell's enchanting production has sparked the ballet careers of many young dancers who performed the roles of Clara and her brothers - including Scottish Ballet Principal Dancer Christopher Harrison who has seen his own dream come true and will be this time performing the star role of The Prince some twenty years later. 

Once again Scottish Ballet welcomes a very special cast of young dancers to the ranks of the Company's professionals for this inspiring production in which Clara, the littlest ballerina, is the one who visits the many magical worlds and saves the brave Nutcracker Prince.

The Scottish Ballet Orchestra will also accompany the dancers live, performing the world famous Tchaikovsky score.

Tickets:

Scottish Ballet’s production of PeterDarrell’s The Nutcracker  appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Wednesday 11 – Saturday 14 February 2015. Tickets are available from £11.50 (a booking fee of 95p - £1.95 will apply to most tickets) and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk