SEASON BROCHURE 2013/14
Season Schedule 2013/14 Le Corsaire Milton Keynes Theatre, 17 – 19 Oct 2013 Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, 22 – 26 Oct 2013 New Theatre, Oxford, 30 Oct – 2 Nov 2013 The Bristol Hippodrome, 26 – 30 Nov 2013 London Coliseum, 9 – 19 Jan 2014 Palace Theatre, Manchester, 11 – 15 Feb 2014 Nutcracker Liverpool Empire, 20 – 23 Nov 2013 London Coliseum, 11 Dec 2013 – 5 Jan 2014 Lest We Forget Barbican Theatre, London, 2 – 12 Apr 2014 My First Ballet: Coppélia Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 5 – 6 Apr 2014 Peacock Theatre, London, 8 – 19 Apr 2014 Palace Theatre, Manchester , 26 -27 Apr 2014 Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, 3 – 4 May 2014 New Victoria Theatre, Woking, 10 – 11 May 2014 Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury, 17 – 18 May 2014 Churchill Theatre, Bromley, 24 – 25 May 2014 Emerging Dancer Lyceum Theatre, London, 19 May 2014 Choreographics The Pit, Barbican, London, 22 – 24 May 2014 Romeo & Juliet Royal Albert Hall, London, 11 – 22 Jun 2014 Coppélia London Coliseum, 23 – 27 Jul 2014
Front cover is Ksenia Ovsyanick in George Williamson’s Firebird, which will be performed as part of Lest We Forget. Photography by Diego Indraccolo
Welcome to English National Ballet’s new season. A brand new production of Le Corsaire, the perennially popular Nutcracker, new commissions from some of our greatest British choreographers and Romeo & Juliet in-the-round – there’s something for all ballet lovers. We start with a bang (and a shipwreck!) when Le Corsaire opens our Autumn tour. This epic adventure of pirates and slave girls features some of the greatest male dancing in the classical repertoire. With a new orchestration, fresh staging and original designs from Bob Ringwood of Batman fame, Le Corsaire opens in Milton Keynes when our new Lead Principal Alina Cojocaru makes her Company debut as the heroine, Medora. Le Corsaire will be part of our Christmas/New Year season at the London Coliseum which will start, as always with our ever-popular Nutcracker. These two masterpieces of the ballet repertoire are part of our tradition of honouring the classical heritage and preserving it for future generations. Spring sees us investing in the classics of the future when we bring our new programme Lest We Forget to the Barbican in London. To mark the centenary of the Great War, a period of history which has left an indelible impression on British memory and culture, I invited three of Britain’s finest chorographers Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant and Liam Scarlett to create pieces to commemorate the anniversary and I was absolutely thrilled when they all agreed. Lest We Forget will also include George Williamson’s ballet Firebird, choreographed to Stravinsky’s celebrated score composed on the eve of the Great War. In June we perform Romeo & Juliet in-the-round at the Royal Albert Hall. This is particularly evocative for me since I will be returning to a role I was fortunate enough to create as a young dancer with the Company and I am thrilled that my friend and former partner Carlos Acosta has agreed to join us as my Romeo. We close the season with Coppélia at the London Coliseum. It’s the perfect family ballet. For those of you thinking of bringing children to it, why not bring them first to My First Ballet: Coppélia, the latest of our specially created ballets for young children. At English National Ballet we are committed to encouraging and recognising the talent of our young dancers. We are happy to announce our Emerging Dancer Competition will return for its fifth year at London’s Lyceum Theatre and Choreographics, our platform for our aspiring choreographers from within Company will be performed at The Pit, Barbican, London. It promises to be a brilliant season – do join us! Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director
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Staged by Anna-Marie Holmes after Marius Petipa and Konstantin Sergeyev Music by Adolphe Adam, Cesare Pugni, LĂŠo Delibes, Riccardo Drigo, Prince Pyotr van Oldenburg, Ludwig Minkus, Yuly Gerber, Baron Boris Fitinhof-Schnell and Albert Zabel Edited by Lars Payne and Gavin Sutherland Libretto by Jules-Henri de Saint-Georges and Joseph Mazilier in a version by Anna-Marie Holmes Based on The Corsair (1814) by Lord Byron Sets and Costumes by Bob Ringwood Lighting by Neil Austin
National Tour
Le Corsaire An epic pirate adventure
17 October 2013 – 15 February 2014 Le Corsaire (The Pirate) is a thrilling ballet about Conrad, a dashing pirate, and his love for Medora, a beautiful harem girl. It is a swashbuckling drama of captive maidens, rich sultans, kidnap and rescue, disguise and conspiracy, love and betrayal, culminating in a shipwreck which is one of the most breath-taking spectacles in ballet. English National Ballet is the first UK company to perform the complete work which showcases some of the most bravura male dancing in the ballet repertoire. The Company will be accompanied by the Orchestra of English National Ballet – a 70-piece ensemble. Hollywood film designer Bob Ringwood (Batman, Alien 3, Star Trek Nemesis, AI and Troy) has created sumptuous sets and costumes that will transport you to a new exotic world. With unmissable dancing, design and music, Le Corsaire is the perfect adventure story for all of the family.
ballet.org.uk/lecorsaire
Generously supported by Swarovski, Le Corsaire Appeal donors and the New Commissioning Fund
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Choreography by Wayne Eagling Based on concept by Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Design by Peter Farmer Lighting by David Richardson
National Tour
Nutcracker A magical Christmas ballet for all the family
20 November 2013 – 5 January 2014 Journey back in time with English National Ballet to a frost-covered, gas-lit London and join Clara, her Nutcracker doll and the magician Drosselmeyer in this traditional, festive tale for all the family. On an enchanted Christmas Eve, under the heavy boughs of the candlelit tree, Clara battles with the Mouse King and falls in love with a handsome stranger. As the air grows colder and snowflakes begin to fall, Clara and her valiant Nutcracker take a hot air balloon ride across the frost-dusted London skyline to the glistening Land of Snow where her adventure really begins. In a world of Edwardian elegance, Nutcracker brings to life the eternally popular Tchaikovsky score featuring the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Waltz of the Flowers. The Company will be accompanied by the Orchestra of English National Ballet – a 70-piece ensemble. This classical production is a memorable and unmissable Christmas treat.
“dazzling” The Daily Telegraph “one of the best Nutcrackers around” Daily Express
ballet.org.uk/nutcracker Generously supported by Swarovski, the Garfield Weston Foundation and Nutcracker Appeal donors
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Barbican Theatre, London
Lest We Forget
Dance inspired by the centenary of the Great War
Akram Khan
Russell Maliphant
2 – 12 April 2014 Award-winning British choreographers Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant and Liam Scarlett have created works honouring the 100th anniversary of the Great War. Completing this programme for English National Ballet is George Williamson’s Firebird. This is the first time that Akram Khan and Russell Maliphant have collaborated with a classical ballet company in creating work which fuses the classical ballet traditions with modern contemporary dance. The programme promises to be a landmark event in British Ballet appealing to contemporary dance audiences as well as ballet devotees.
Liam Scarlett
George Williamson
ballet.org.uk/lestweforget
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Image: Mark Ruffle
National Tour English National Ballet and English National Ballet School present
My First Ballet: Coppélia Introducing the magic of ballet to children 5 April – 25 May 2014 My First Ballet: Coppélia tells the comic tale of an eccentric toymaker and his mechanical doll in a beautifully adapted version for young audiences. Dr Coppélius, the toymaker, has created the lifelike Coppélia doll, and wishes for nothing more than to bring her to life. He thinks that his dream has finally come true, but he has merely been caught up in a lovers’ tiff. Love triumphs over all in this comedy of mistaken identity and the finale is a breathtaking celebration of the lovers’ marriage.
My First Ballet: Coppélia is choreographed by George Williamson, English National Ballet’s Associate Artist, after an original production by Ronald Hynd.
Delibes’s irresistibly melodic score is accompanied with narration to ensure that everyone enjoys this classic fairy tale.
Supported by the Leverhulme Trust In partnership with King’s College London specialist resources will be available for children with learning disabilities.
The My First Ballet series brings young audiences their first taste of ballet through the magic of fairy tales, captivating music and beautiful dance. This production is performed by second year students of English National Ballet School. ballet.org.uk/myfirst/coppelia
Lyceum Theatre, London
Emerging Dancer
Celebrating the talent of tomorrow’s stars 19 May 2014 The Emerging Dancer Competition, now in its fifth year, is an annual competition for English National Ballet to recognise and nurture talent and encourage excellence in the Company. Experience the excitement of seeing young talent thrive in the live final as the six Emerging Dancer nominees perform in front of an eminent panel of expert judges. The 2014 Emerging Dancer Award winner is announced at the end of the evening together with the recipient of The People’s Choice Award, which is voted for by members of the public.
This is a fantastic opportunity to see extraordinary talent flourish in an intimate venue. The search is on for the stars of tomorrow!
ballet.org.uk/emergingdancer
Generously supported by Talbot Hughes McKillop, the restructuring experts.
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The Pit, Barbican, London
Choreographics 22 – 24 May 2014
After sell-out shows at The Place, Choreographics is back. Five English National Ballet dancers have the opportunity to choreograph new ballets. Under the direction of Associate Artist, George Williamson, the dancers will create works inspired by a piece of text about the Great War. They will also be mentored by Dr Bruce Wall, Executive Director, London Shakespeare Workout / LSW Prison Project.
The finished pieces will be performed by dancers from the Company. The programme will be opened by the 2014 Choroegraphic Competition Winner from English National Ballet School. ballet.org.uk/choreographics
Choreography by Derek Deane Music by Serge Prokofiev Design by Roberta Guidi di Bagno Lighting Design by Howard Harrison
Royal Albert Hall Raymond Gubbay and the Royal Albert Hall present Derek Deane’s
Romeo & Juliet in-the-round The world’s greatest love story 11 – 22 greatest June 2014love story orld’s
Performed by a huge company of 120 dancers, actors and swordsmen, this epic staging of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy is set in-the-round. This acclaimed production brings to life all the emotions of the world’s greatest love story, from the majestic sweep of the masked ball to the passion and intimacy of the lovers’ balcony scene. Renaissance Verona with all its decadent richness and grandeur is beautifully evoked by Roberta Guidi di Bagno’s designs. Prokofiev’s evocative and memorable score is played by the full Orchestra of English National Ballet.
”...triumphs by making a familiar ballet fresh again with magic, invention - and fear.” Evening Standard “This is the best of Derek Deane’s arena ballets” The Daily Telegraph ballet.org.uk/romeoandjuliet
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Choreography by Ronald Hynd Music by LĂŠo Delibes Design by Desmond Heeley Lighting by David Mohr
London Coliseum
Coppélia
The comic family tale of an eccentric toymaker and his mechanical doll
23 – 27 July 2014 Dr Coppélius, the toymaker, has created the lifelike Coppélia doll and wishes for nothing more than to bring her to life. He thinks his dream has finally come true, but he has merely been caught up in a lovers’ tiff. Love triumphs over all in this comedy of mistaken identity and the finale is a breathtaking celebration of the lovers’ marriage. Coppélia is an enchanting, effervescent family ballet, perfect for young and old alike. Delibes’s irresistibly melodic score is played by the Orchestra of English National Ballet.
“A joyful, colourful ballet which is suitable for children and adults alike” Daily Express “There are few things greater than Coppélia” The Daily Telegraph
ballet.org.uk/coppelia
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Booking Information Le Corsaire
Milton Keynes Theatre 0844 871 7652 Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 023 8071 1811 New Theatre, Oxford 0844 871 3020 The Bristol Hippodrome 0844 871 3012 London Coliseum 020 7845 9300 Palace Theatre, Manchester 0844 872 3019
Nutcracker
Liverpool Empire 0844 871 3017 London Coliseum 020 7845 9300
Lest We Forget
Barbican Theatre, London 020 7638 8891
My First Ballet: CoppĂŠlia
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury 01743 281281 Peacock Theatre, London 0844 412 4300 Palace Theatre, Manchester 0844 871 3019 Assembly Hall Theatre, Royal Tunbridge Wells 01892 530613 New Victoria Theatre, Woking 0844 871 7645 Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury 0844 871 7607 Churchill Theatre, Bromley 08448 717 620
Romeo & Juliet
Royal Albert Hall, London 020 7589 8212
CoppĂŠlia
London Coliseum 020 7845 9300
Emerging Dancer
Lyceum Theatre, London 0844 871 3000
Choreographics
The Pit, Barbican, London 020 7638 8891
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Photographers: Photography by ASH, Patrick Baldwin, Guy Farrow, Michael Garner, Caroline Holden, Laurent Liotardo, Chris Nash, Jay Mawson, Johann Persson,Eric Richmond, Panayiotis Sinnos Andrej Uspenski, Laurent Ziegler English National Ballet is a registered charity No: 214005.
www.ballet.org.uk