From fluid, floaty, tender, strong, angular and jovial to grace, strength and seamless instinctive precision, that’s BalletBoyz’s Them/Us at the Vaudeville Theatre.
‘Great music which finds so many ways into our hearts’: Celebrating the splendour of Tchaikovsky’s three great ballets
I was a little late to the party in respect of Vladimir Jurowski’s scintillating new recording of the original 1877 version of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake with the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia (Yevgeny Svetlanov’s orchestra) but I’ve been much absorbed by it, thrilled by it.
‘Hauntingly hypnotic’: SILENT LINES – Touring ★★★★
Whether you’re a contemporary-dance-curious newcomer or a die-hard fan of Maliphant’s exquisite vision and choreography, Silent Lines is a beautifully serene though sharply executed performance.
‘This message really packs a punch’: MATTHEW BOURNE’s ROMEO & JULIET – Touring
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet is a wakeup call to the conscious and unconscious abuse of children and adolescents – psychological, sexual, physical – that plagues our society.
‘The whole company must be applauded’: BEATS ON POINTE – Peacock Theatre ★★★★
Beats on Pointe at the Peacock Theatre is an infectiously enjoyable show that’s at its best when it focuses entirely on the dance – highly recommended.
‘In complete awe of the company’s ability & attention to detail’: DOG WITHOUT FEATHERS – Queen Elizabeth Hall ★★★★★
Deborah Colker Dance Company presents Dog Without Feathers, an incredible piece of dance which combines music, poetry, stark cinematography and a spellbinding dance ensemble.
NEWS: Riverdance producers bring ‘dance extravaganza’ Heartbeat of Home to the West End
The producers of Riverdance have announced that dance and music extravaganza Heartbeat of Home will open in the West End’s Piccadilly Theatre on 4 September 2019, with opening night on 11 September.
‘Enchants the audience from start to finish’: SWAN LAKE – Touring ★★★★★
Thrilling and dynamic, Matthew Bourne’s production of Swan Lake stays with you long after the curtain has come down.
‘There’s plenty to like about this show’: WOW EVERYTHING IS AMAZING – Touring
There’s plenty to like about Wow Everything Is Amazing, particularly the young performers. But it feels simultaneously too simple of story, and one that was created by adults and foisted on young people rather than the young people making something messier but fully owned by them.
‘Remains fresh & innovative today’: MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE – Touring ★★★★
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.
‘Making it feel fresh even after all these years’: ROMEO & JULIET – Royal Opera House ★★★★
This Royal Ballet season beautifully revives Kenneth MacMillan’s dramatic monument in a smooth and moving way, with a number of company debuts making Romeo & Juliet feel fresh even after all these years.
‘More captivating than ever’: BEAUTY & THE BEAST – Touring ★★★★
Beauty & the Beast is certainly a ‘tale as old as time’, and in this beautiful interpretation by Birmingham Royal Ballet the magical relationship between Belle and the Beast appears more captivating than ever.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Australian Ballet’s Cinderella
As witty as it is romantic, the Australian Ballet’s characterful production of Cinderella makes an unplanned yet very welcome return visit to Melbourne, showcasing the glorious partnership of married principal artists Ako Kondo and Chengwu Guo.
‘A breath of fresh air’: FAT BLOKES – Manchester ★★★★★
Fat Blokes is not your typical dance show. It’s witty, queer, honest, and uncomfortable in all the right places. It’s nothing you expect it to be, but everything that it should be.
‘Sure to delight fans of both dance & circus’: SIGMA – Touring in Canada
Sigma is a cross-cultural integration of dance and circus that pushes the classical and the contemporary together into a wonderful production that is sure to delight fans of both artforms.
‘Still wonderfully magical’: BEAUTY & THE BEAST – Touring ★★★★
Birmingham Royal Ballet puts on a truly magical and haunting performance of David Bintley’s Beauty & the Beast.
‘The paring of the two is an inspired choice’: THE RITE OF SPRING & GIANNI SCHICCHI – Touring ★★★★
Opera North’s The Rite of Spring/Gianni Schicchi is an uneven pairing but a thoroughly enlightening and enjoyable evening nonetheless. Both works serve as great entry points to their respective mediums.
NEWS: Company, Come From Away & The Inheritance top the Olivier Awards 2019 nominations
Musicals Company and Come From Away top the Olivier Awards 2019 nominations with nine nods each, while The Inheritance is the most recognised play with eight nominations. The ceremony takes place on Sunday 7 April at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Jason Manford.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: Rip it Up at the Garrick Theatre
Bringing the 1960s to life, find out what critics made of Rip it Up, now playing at the Garrick Theatre.
What is this apparent obsession in the UK of shunning success?
A recent article questioning Richard E Grant’s near apocalyptic public display of happiness at his Oscar nomination got me thinking about the great Mark Bramble who the world sadly lost this week.