This is the shortest preview I will be doing as the productions have fairly long runs rather than being one night stands – on points obviously – and then go on tour.
The prime example is Romeo and Juliet, which I had the pleasure of attending in March but is still going strong now, and will be until 26th October. It has obviously moved on from Leeds Grand Theatre, mainly because it is closed for a while, and at present is showing those southerners that there is more to Northern life than Rugby League and whippets.
Romeo and Juliet
From 19th to 28th September it is playing the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon, after which it moves to Southampton Mayflower, 3rd October to 5th October, and then on to Canterbury Marlowe Theatre from 9th to 12th October. 23rd to 26th October sees the production return to civilisation with performances at Newcastle Theatre Royal.
To see what I thought of it, as if you can’t guess, scroll back to March on this very site, or easier still, click on Ballet.
Three Short Ballets
The latest in the series Three Short Ballets is back at the Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds from 6th to 14th September. Early next year, 28th January to 31st January, it brings light into the dark month visiting London Linbury Theatre at Royal Ballet and Opera. The clue as to the content is in the title, with this year’s trio being Fools: A Romeo and Juliet inspired story, choreographed by Mthuthuzeli, concerning a tribal rivalry between two South African villages; Four Last Songs from Rudi van Dantzig which was created in 1977 and is an expression of love, loss and the beauty of the human experience, to the music of Richard Strauss with the addition of a single soprano voice. The third piece has me wondering, as it is a new ballet by Kristen McNally performed by two Northern Ballet dancers and Joe Powell-Main, a disabled dancer who uses wheels and crutches. It is not that bit which has me perplexed, but the title, Title:To be announced. I don’t know if that is the real name of the piece or a pro tem one until a proper moniker has been thought of. If you would like to see something a bit different, or, like me, have the attention span of a mackerel, this is for you. Again, scroll back or search Ballet to read about the last Three Short Ballets.
A Christmas Carol
Finally, we have the festive offering, although, as it is A Christmas Carol, festive might not be the right word. It is Directed and Devised by Christopher Gable CBE and Choreographed by Massimo Moricone to music by Carl Davis. It begins its tour at Sheffield Lyceum Theatre 7th to 9th November, from where it moves to Hull New Theatre 12th to 16th November, Norwich Theatre Royal 19th to 23rd and Nottingham Theatre Royal 26th to 30th, before arriving home at Leeds Grand Theatre for Christmas and the New Year, 17th December, 2024 to 4th January, 2025.
For full details of all the productions and to book, please go to https://northernballet.com/ You can also see a clip there from the 2022 Three Short Ballets.
Images supplied by Northern Ballet.
May I be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Tyke It To The Limit 