Brilliant ballet choreography a treat for all
IF anyone can be trusted to cheer us up on a gloomy November night it has to be Sir Matthew Bourne. Yet his 10th anniversary production of Sleeping Beauty does a lot more than just lift the spirits with its blend of masterful storytelling, genius choreography, brilliant music and, of course, exquisite dancing.
The superlatives about this show could go on for 100 years. But to phrase it without sending you to sleep, this is the perfect production for both seasoned audiences and for first-time ballet goers. Adults and children alike will delight in its charm, magic and the brilliance of every aspect of the performance.
There have been many adaptations of the Sleeping Beauty, or Little Briar Rose, story over the years and Bourne has certainly added some twists and surprises of his own. Yet the story retains its fairytale charm while re-telling the story of Princess Aurora, performed beautifully by two of the company’s principle dancers Ashley Shaw and Plymouth’s own Katrina Lyndon.
Of course it would be nothing without Tchaikovsky’s enchanting and exhilarating score, the magical set and the incredibly beautiful use of colour to create contrast between the different scenes and phases of the story.
There’s also plenty of humour – with the cunningly-created Baby Aurora stealing most of the laughs, as well as the oohs and the aahs.
The young dancers of Bourne’s New Adventures company display their talent and versatility by sharing many of the leading roles. And they do so with polished performances which captivate the audience from beginning to end.
Many of the performers are a product of New Adventures’ own talent development programme. Judging by the standard they displayed on Tuesday evening, that’s a wonderful thing – not only for the future of British ballet but also for Plymouth audiences who can hope there’s a lot more of them to come.