Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Lez Brotherston. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Lez Brotherston. Sort by date Show all posts
Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty (Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 14th February 2023
★★★★
In this spookily spellbinding production, Matthew Bourne entices us into a darkly fantastical world full of fairies and vampires. Bourne's signature spin of surrealism is combined with Tchaikovsky's timeless score to create a twisted ballet that is engaging, if at times lacking in soaring emotion.
Whilst Sleeping Beauty is a much-loved fairytale, if the Disney version is your only reference point, you'll be quite surprised at what takes place on stage. This modern interpretation of an originally medieval tale, toes the line between reality and fantasy and really leans in to the Gothic elements to create a ballet with distinct acts that span centuries and allow for some very interesting moments.
From the outset Lez Brotherston's set takes us to palace which feels eerily perfect and things go from there. Alongside Paule Constable's lighting, the whole show always feels like it's teetering on being a dream (or a nightmare) and you never quite know what's real and what's not.
The show is a real frenzy of drama, with various characters on their own personal journeys, and at times there's a slight lack of fluidity but on the other hand, this chaotic energy does add to the dark, frantic vibes.
As always, Bourne has assembled a stellar cast of dancers who perform both stunning solos and precise ensemble numbers. Katrina Lyndon is stunning in her youthful portrayal of the cursed Princess Aurora, whilst her suitor, Leo, The Royal Gamekeeper is played gloriously by Stephen Murray. The duo work especially well together and really shine in their romantic moments. Paris Fitzpatrick is suitably menacing as Caradoc and is a sort of omnipresent demon overseeing the ballet. Stephanie Billers also gives an emotively strong performance as Queen Eleanor and Daisy May Kemp is also a standout in her role of Miss Maddox.
In the metaverse of Matthew Bourne, this show completes his trio of twisted fairytales, and there's even somewhat of an ode to Swan Lake with the Act Two fairy dance. Whilst it's not the most moving of pieces, it's certainly got some outstanding moments and is a change from the usual takes on a classic story. For something uniquely dark, Sleeping Beauty is well worth a visit.
photo credit: Johan Persson
{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
Wednesday, 2 August 2017
Fiddler on the Roof, Chichester Festival Theatre | Review
Fiddler on the Roof
Chichester Festival Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday August 1st 2017 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★★
It's not often that I venture out of London for theatre but when I do it's usually to Chichester and so far I've never been disappointed with a production. Of the various shows I've seen there, Fiddler on the Roof is by far the best and I am completely in awe of its brilliance. If I Were A Rich Man, I would fund this productions transfer to the West End right this minute, but as I'm not I will have to settle with the fact that the show, directed by Daniel Evans is absolutely fantastic so is more than likely to make the move without me... I'll just have to wait a little while.
Set in rural Tsarist Russia in 1905 when the first hints of revolution are revealing themselves, we follow Tevye who is trying to preserve tradition in the face of a changing world by marrying off his daughters. They, however, want to marry not for money but for love. In a time when Russia's Jews are facing incredible hardships where tradition is one of the few things keeping them together, Tevye has to decide whether his daughters' happiness is more important than his adored traditions.
Omid Djalili was born to play the poor dairyman, Tevye. His masterful comedic timing is pure excellence but he also manages to capture his internal torment and external hardships perfectly. Djalili is able to involve the audience with every thought that goes through his head and makes sure that every side of the Festival Theatre gets to feel and see the emotion. Tracy-Ann Oberman is great as his wife, Golde, with her caustic personality the ideal contrast to the bright, humorous Tevye.
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| Emma Kingston (Hodel) and Louis Maskell (Perchik) |
The rest of the family are equally strong with the daughters each having clear personalities and being performed to the fullest. Simbi Akande as Tzeitel is sweet but strong, begging her father to allow her to marry the impoverished tailor, Motel (Jos Slovic). The pair work wonderfully together. Emma Kingston shows off her stunning voice as Hodel who falls in love with the forward thinking, Perchik played by Louis Maskell who has an equally beautiful voice which soared over every note perfectly in 'Now I Have Everything'. Particularly touching with the two was during the first Sabbath dinner when they kept subtly making eye contact with one another and we could see the first inklings of their romance. Rose Shalloo as Chava and Luke Fetherston as Fyedka have fantastic chemistry, showing their struggles with honesty and strength.
Lez Brotherston's design is bare and simplistic as it should be but transitions and evolves wonderfully to create the various settings and is able to establish feelings of both warmth and stark cold at various times. Alistair David's choreography is spectacular, lively and powerful. It unapologetically shows off Jewish tradition and does so in a extremely striking way; popping and dazzling from start to end.
The entire cast are incredibly strong and this is as much an ensemble piece as it is a lead-led piece. Each moment when the cast come together- either in choreography or in close a cappella harmony- is magical.
I'm truly wowed by this production. My only little niggle is the accents at times, with some attempting and falling somewhat short but this is my only fault in an overall impeccable production. May it transfer and run for a very long time!
Fiddler on the Roof runs at the Chichester Festival Theatre until September 2nd 2017
photo credit: Johan Persson
Wednesday, 6 November 2024
Matthew Bourne’s Iconic Swan Lake Celebrates 30 Years with Extensive UK and Ireland Tour
Dance lovers, prepare to experience the power and artistry of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, as it embarks on an extraordinary UK and Ireland tour to celebrate its 30th anniversary. With 29 weeks of breathtaking performances across 19 venues, New Adventures once again brings Tchaikovsky’s classic to audiences with a thrilling revival that pushes dance theatre boundaries. Starting at Theatre Royal Plymouth on November 11, 2024, and leading into an 8-week holiday season at Sadler’s Wells, this tour marks New Adventures’ 22nd consecutive Christmas season at the iconic venue.
In 2025, the tour extends to Aberdeen, Sheffield, and Dublin, alongside previously announced cities including Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, ensuring audiences nationwide will have a chance to experience the groundbreaking production that forever changed dance theatre. Since premiering at Sadler’s Wells in 1995, Swan Lake has won over 30 international awards and become the most successful dance production of all time, celebrated for replacing the traditional female swan ensemble with a bold, male corps-de-ballet. The production’s success has reverberated globally, holding records for the longest-running full-length dance piece in both the West End and on Broadway, with Olivier and Tony Awards in categories from Best New Dance Production to Best Choreography.
This tour also welcomes a new generation of New Adventures talent making their debut in lead roles: Harrison Dowzell, Jackson Fisch, and Rory Macleod as The Swan/The Stranger; James Lovell, Leonardo McCorkindale, and Stephen Murray as The Prince; Nicole Kabera and Ashley Shaw as The Queen; Katrina Lyndon and Bryony Wood in double roles. The company’s stellar ensemble will elevate Lez Brotherston’s set and costume design and Paule Constable’s dynamic lighting, with video and projection by Duncan McLean. The dark, witty, and emotionally charged choreography, directed by Matthew Bourne, remains central to this genre-defining experience, blending wit and menace in equal parts.
As Official Partners, Fortnum & Mason and Edwardian Hotels bring their support to the tour, underscoring the cultural importance of this masterpiece. Join the excitement as Swan Lake embarks on its 30th-anniversary journey, celebrating dance theatre history with every performance.
photo credit: Johan Persson
Tuesday, 22 October 2024
Matthew Bourne's Award-Winning The Midnight Bell Returns for a Nationwide Tour in 2025
New Adventures is thrilled to announce the return of Matthew Bourne's critically acclaimed The Midnight Bell in 2025. The production will open at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham on Thursday, May 15, before embarking on a 17-week tour across the UK, reaching new audiences at many venues for the first time.
Set in 1930s London, The Midnight Bell follows a group of ordinary people whose lives intersect in the pubs and foggy streets of Soho and Fitzrovia. The story unfolds within a tavern where a lonely-hearts club gathers to navigate the emotional complexities of love, longing, and heartbreak. The piece is inspired by the works of English novelist Patrick Hamilton, who captured the lives and struggles of the working-class man and woman in London's pubs, particularly in his novels Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky and Hangover Square.
Premiering in 2021 to widespread acclaim, The Midnight Bell received five nominations at the 2022 National Dance Awards, including wins for Matthew Bourne's Best Modern Choreography and Michela Meazza's Outstanding Female Modern Performance. Bourne reflects on the significance of this piece, which marked New Adventures' return to touring post-pandemic. He expressed his excitement about revisiting the show in 2025 and introducing it to new audiences, describing it as a collaborative masterpiece that explores the fundamental need for human connection.
For this revival, Bourne will reunite with his award-winning creative team, including Terry Davies (music), Lez Brotherston (set and costume design), Paule Constable (lighting design), and Paul Groothuis (sound design). The 2025 tour will feature a cast of fourteen of New Adventures' finest actor-dancers, with full casting to be announced soon. Audiences are invited to step inside The Midnight Bell once more to experience its bittersweet stories of human emotion and connection.
Wednesday, 17 April 2019
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake (UK Tour), New Wimbledon Theatre | Review
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake (UK Tour)
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 16th April 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake premiered in 1995 and has since received critical and audience acclaim. Bourne's Swan Lake which replaces the female swans with an ensemble of skilled, menacing men, is one of the most groundbreaking ballet retellings and remains fresh and innovative today.
In typically Bourne fashion, the storyline is dark but with many injections of humour and fine attention to detail (the adorable Corgi which crosses the stage is just one example). The set is extravagant and luxurious enough to make you forget you're watching a touring production. Equally, Lez Brotherston has done an outstanding job with the delicately designed costumes which conjure up the atmosphere of each scene and setting wonderfully. Particularly impressive are the glamorous ballroom scenes where everything sparkles and shines; and the sinister hospital scene where masks bring a nightmarish world to life against stark white.
The entirety of this ballet is fantastically nuanced, with every emotion interpreted perfectly. The balance between dance, comedy and drama is exquisite and there are often so many brilliant things happening at once that you don't know where to look. This production is truly a feast for the eyes.
Tchaikovsky's score also provides a feast for the ears. The Swan Lake Orchestra's lush, virtuosic recording shines and soars exactly as one would wish. The recognisable music, accompanied by masculine dance has the audience transfixed from open to close.
Max Westwell as The Swan is outstandingly multi-faceted. At times he is menacing as he rears up, but equally calm and regal as he defensively bows down. The contrast is amazing to watch as is the way the Price (Dominic North) complements him. The pair are both strong and delicate as they create a thrilling union on stage.
Nicole Kabera is suitably regal as the queen, with Freya Field a complete contrast, constantly stepping on toes and causing laughs as the Girlfriend. Both ladies are highlights of the production.
Swan Lake is a sumptuous production full of glorious moments which you'd be hard pressed not to revel in. A powerful, intricately choreographed and danced show, this is a must see for ballet regulars and newbies alike.
Swan Lake runs at the New Wimbledon Theatre until April 20th, before continuing its tour.
photo credit: Johan Persson
Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Matthew Bourne's Cinderella (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Matthew Bourne's Cinderella (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 19th June 2018 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Making a return to the stage after debuting 20 years ago, Matthew Bourne's Cinderella is a departure from the traditional setting we know and instead takes place in 1940's London against the backdrop of war, air raid sirens and the blitz. Sergei Prokofiev wrote the hauntingly desperate score during the Second World War so it's seems only fitting to set the ballet then.
Act One begins with the dancers appearing in grey, depressing London before transitioning to Cinderella's blacked out house. This initial darkness shows the desperation and loneliness that our lead character feels from the onset. In the house we are introduced to a number of creepy, bizarre characters who become more and more excited as they receive their invites to the ball.
Ashley Shaw's Cinderella is surprisingly comical and and exciting to watch. Her duet a dressmaking dummy was a personal stand out moment and highlighted Shaw's versatility as a dancer and an actress. As her romantic lead, Andrew Monaghan is tormented but powerful throughout. The two are wonderful together and create moments of theatrical brilliance.
The traditional 'Fairy-Godmother role is subverted in this production to be an Angel played by a man, Liam Mower. Mower does an outstanding job is his sharp white suit, of guiding Cinderella whilst also appearing to be an all seeing protector of London who at one point rushes off to seemingly intercept a bomb!
Lez Brotherston's set is a love letter to Wartime London. It is intricate but simplistic and highlights iconic London scenes such as Embankment and the Underground with flawless grace. The use of film and the train station are especially reminiscent of Brief Encounter and allow us to be transported to a painfully magical time. The Café de Paris is particularly moving as it becomes a smashed shell of war torn London.
This is a show with a modern twist that is full of enough heart and magic to make you want to watch it over and over. There is extravagance and simplicity in equal measure and this is a truly unmissable fairytale.
Matthew Bourne's Cinderella runs at the New Victoria Theatre until June 23rd
photo credit: Johan Persson
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