Anne of Green Gables
A classic tale starring 51 young dancers.
After being cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic, the London Children’s Ballet (LCB) is finally putting on its performance of Anne of Green Gables at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre in London.
The production is based on the classic novel by L.M. Montgomery, published in 1908. It tells the story of Anne, a feisty girl who is adopted by elderly brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.
The LCB is a performance company that says it wants to change lives through dance. It creates ballet shows that are performed by nine to 16-year-olds from all over the country. The shows usually take place in London’s West End, one of the most famous areas for theatres in the world. Annalise Wainwright-Jones (13), from Shropshire, England, plays Anne in this production. Jenna Lee, a former dancer with English National Ballet, is the choreographer for the show. Her job is to teach the steps and dance routines to the performers. She told The Week Junior that more than
600 young people auditioned for Anne of Green Gables, but just 51 were chosen to take part. Lee said it has been amazing for her to watch the dancers gain confidence, from the first rehearsal in January – where many of them were nervous and didn’t know each other – to now.
“I try to create an open environment,” Lee says, explaining that although the dancers had mixed levels of experience when they began, she encouraged them to connect with their characters so that they can act their parts, as well as dance them. Lee found the young dancers were filled with energy because the experience of performing is so exciting. “It’s the magic of the theatre,” she says.
The show is at the Peacock Theatre from 26 to 29 May. Find out more at tinyurl.com/TWJ-gables