Jan McNulty

I went to a very good grammar school ( around 600 pupils) and if the head knew me I would be a monkey's uncle! Surely it is up to the board to define the job. I don't think combining the jobs of AD and CEO is a good idea (even though Christopher Hampson seems to be doing well in the double role at Scottish Ballet). Presumably the AD of the RBS oversees both lower and upper schools which are on different sites, which adds a degree of complexity. It's probably best to wait for the Job Description that should be available when the job is advertised.

I don't use the audio guides either. I tried one once... I'd much rather look at something and then do further reading later if I want too.

I only saw this production on the cinema but I'm so used to seeing SPW's production for BRB that I can't understand all the fuss about Benno having a bigger role.

David Nixon was the Artistic Director at Northern Ballet for 21 years and Sir David Bintley was at the helm of BRB for 24 years.

Links - Sunday 14 January, 2024 Reviews - English National Ballet, Giselle, London: Vikki Jane Vile, Broadway World Nicola Claire, Seeing Dance Debra Craine, Times (share token) Review - West Side Story, Paris: Patrick Honoré, Broadway World Preview Feature - push/Fold & Portland Symphonic Choir, Vespers, Portland: Alanna Love, En Face Magazine Preview Feature - Tangaj Collective, Romanenjana, BLOT - Body Line of Thought, Vancouver: Janet Smith, Stir Preview Feature - Out-FRONT! Festival, New York: Caedra Scott-Flaherty, NY Observer Feature - Alina Cojocaru: Roslyn Sulcas, NY Times Feature - Marcelino Sambé, Royal Ballet: Killian Fox, Guardian Feature - Francesca Hayward, Royal Ballet: Blanca Schofield, Times (share token)

You can see the pointes inside the clogs in this clip: Happy Sunday!

Guardian critics on how to be a better audience member: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/jan/13/audience-etiquette-culture-critics-on-how-to-behave-at-events

Hello @Allbarone and welcome out of the lurking shadows!

I attended a promenade performance by a physical theatre company a good few years ago. I don't know if the Linbury is the same as The Lowry Quays Theatre but the stage had been levelled off to ground level as well as all the stalls seats having been removed. It was good fun wandering around seeing the different groups of movement. The performance wasn't too long and ran without an interval so it wasn't too arduous. I vaguely remembering one member of the audience having mobility and stability issues so the theatre staff brought them a chair to sit on.

Links - Saturday 13 January, 2024 Reviews - English National Ballet, Giselle, London: Lyndsey Winship, Guardian David Jays, Standard Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Alastair Macaulay, Slipped Disc Siobhan Murphy, Stage Guillermo Nazara, First Night Magazine Mark Monahan, Telegraph (behind paywall) Review - Jazz at the Joyce, New York: Ivy Lin, Bachtrack Review - International Classic Ballet Theatre, The Nutcracker, Sheffield: Sheila Stratford, Reviews Hub Physical Theatre Review - Frantic Assembly, Metamorphosis, Bristol: Joan Phillips, British Theatre Guide Preview - Australian Ballet, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Sydney & Melbourne: Staff, Australian Arts Review Preview - Sao Paolo Dance Company, mixed programme, Southampton: Kieran James, Eastleigh News Preview - Festival of New Choreography, London: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Preview - Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, Coppél-i.A., Costa Mesa: Joshua Wright, Broadway World Preview - Russian Royal Ballet, Swan Lake, Shanghai: Yang Meiping, Shine Tribute - Joan Acocella, dance writer: Neima Jahromi, New Yorker Report - 2023+ Leadership Transitions: Dance Data Project Feature - The Black Choreographers dancing toward justice: Hannah J Davies, Hyperallergic News - Yuan Yuan Tan to retire from San Francisco Ballet: Rachel Howard, SF Chronicle Chloe Rabinowitz, Broadway World News - Dani Hernández appointed Director of the National Ballet School of Cuba: Staff, Escambray Book Feature - Tina Pereira (NBoCanada) & Loredana Cunti, Tina Prima Ballerina: Butterflies dance too: Rushanthi Kesunathan, Beach Metro

I'm lost for words at this. I do ok on my company pension and the state pension has come in handy but I was by no means at the bottom of the grades in my employment so I do actually know many of my colleagues who don't have nearly as much disposable income as I do. Apart from not living in London so any ticket purchase includes the cost of the journey and, for an evening performance, accommodation. A lot of friends in my age bracket were caught up in the pensions scandal of some years ago. My friend's late husband (they were self employed) got less than 1/4 of what he had been told to expect.

It's such sad news. I used to love listening to her shows. RIP Annie. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/12/annie-nightingale-radio-1-dj-dies-aged-83 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67955757

I'm from Liverpool and I don't read the Sun. #don'treadthesun #don'tbuythesun #JFT97

Hello Imogen and welcome to the Forum.

And how about a "State Pensioners" Membership?

All the ones I looked at are.

Links - Friday 12 January, 2024 Obituary - John Ashford, ex-Director of The Place & Founder-director of Aerowaves: Sanjoy Roy, Guardian Tribute - Joan Acocella, dance writer: Michelle Potter & Jennifer Shannon, ... on dancing Review - Scottish Ballet, Cinders!, Edinburgh: Vivien Devlin, Edinburgh Guide Review - National Ballet of China, The Red Detachment of Women, Hong Kong: Kevin Ng, HK Economic Journal Review - Estonian National Ballet, The Nutcracker, Timbu-Limbu’s Court and the Snow-Millers, Tallinn: Stuart Sweeney, Critical Dance Review - International Classic Ballet Theatre, The Nutcracker, Sheffield: Velda Harris, British Theatre Guide Preview - Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sleeping Beauty, Birmingham & on tour: Staff, Theatre Weekly Preview - Company Wayne McGregor, Autobiography, UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey, London: Graham Spicer, Gramilano Preview - Miami International Ballet Competition 2024, Miami: Staff, Miami's Community News TV Preview - Russell Maliphant Dance Company, Vortex: Teresa Guerreiro, Culture Whisper Feature - Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, choreographer: Lisa Bradshaw, Brussels Times Feature - Jacques Heim, founder & creative director of Diavolo|Architecture in Motion: Victoria Looseleaf, Fjord Review News - Yasmine Naghdi & Reece Clarke (Royal Ballet) to appear in gala in Bucharest: Radu Dumitrescu, Romania Insider Audio Feature - A sensory-friendly Nutcracker at the San Francisco Ballet: Deepa Fernandes, WBUR Feature - The National Ballet of Ukraine tours Canada: Kathleen Smith, Pointe Magazine

Company Wayne McGregor Autobiography (v95 and v96) Performances: Tuesday 12 & Wednesday 13 March 2024 & UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey Performances: Friday 15 & Saturday 16 March 2024 Tickets from £15 Ticket Office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com Company Wayne McGregor returns to Sadler's Wells Theatre this March with two works from Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist and visionary choreographer Wayne McGregor CBE. His company performs Autobiography (v95 and v96) on 12 & 13 March and UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey on 15 & 16 March. Autobiography (v95 and v96) © Andrej Uspenski Innovative technology and revolutionary choreography bring to life two works by choreographer and director Wayne McGregor, performed by Company Wayne McGregor. Throughout his career, Wayne McGregor has made choreography that interrogates life through the experience of the body in its multifaceted relationship with technology. In 2017, McGregor turned his attention to the ‘body as archive’ with Autobiography (1.0), the first in a developing series of unique dance portraits inspired and determined by the sequencing of his own genetic code. Layering choreographic imprints over personal memoir and in dialogue with a specially created algorithm that hijacks McGregor’s DNA data, Autobiography upends the traditional nature of dance-making as artificial intelligence and instinct converge in creative authorship. In the most recent iteration of Wayne McGregor's Autobiography (v95 and v96), genetic code, AI and choreography merge in a work that re-imagines and remakes itself anew for every performance. AISOMA - a new AI tool developed with Google Arts and Culture utilising machine-learning trained on 100s of hours of McGregor’s choreographic archive - overwrites the configurations of its initial state to present fresh movement options to the performers. With original music by Jlin, set design and projection by Ben Cullen Williams, lighting design by Lucy Carter, costume design by Aitor Throup, dramaturgy by Uzma Hameed and algorithm design by Nick Rothwell. UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey © Andrej Uspenski Wayne McGregor’s UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey, reimagines Jim Henson’s cult 1982 film The Dark Crystal - a darkly fantastical epic with mythological underpinnings and ecological overtones - as a potent tale for today in its depiction of an earth in peril, torn apart by extremes and in desperate need of healing. Performed by the startling dancers of Company Wayne McGregor. Director and choreographer Wayne McGregor leads a team of world-class creatives, including composer Joel Cadbury, film designer Ravi Deepres, lighting designer Lucy Carter, dramaturg Uzma Hameed, costume designer Philip Delamore, face-and body-artist Alex Box and spoken word artist Isaiah Hull. This electrifying collaboration explores themes of nature, exploitation, courage and rescue in an epic adventure through an unsettling world, in the context of our own ailing planet. While fans of the film may recognise the shadow of characters and situations, they are glimpsed through the maelstrom of our contemporary world with its magical characters and environments, and its depiction of the darknesses that lurk within the human psyche. UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey, taps into an innate, deep-held knowledge of good and evil, as well as an umbilical connection to the natural world. A modern myth of ecological urgency, McGregor examines how we can come together to be whole again. Born in 1970, Wayne McGregor CBE is a multi-award-winning British choreographer and director, internationally renowned for trailblazing innovations in performance that have radically redefined dance in the modern era. He is regularly commissioned by and has works in the repertories of the most important dance companies in the world, including Paris Opera Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet and Australian Ballet. He is in demand as a choreographer for theatre, opera, film, music videos, fashion shows and TV. More recently, McGregor presented Untitled 2023, his latest work for The Royal Ballet. ABBA Voyage, the revolutionary concert that launched the Swedish pop sensations back onstage in an outstanding avatar performance in 2022, choreographed by McGregor, continues into 2024. In November 2024, McGregor brings Margaret Atwood’s post-apocalyptic vision to the stage in the three-act ballet MADDADDAM based on the writer’s acclaimed trilogy of novels: 'Oryx and Crake', 'The Year of the Flood' and 'MaddAddam' to The Royal Opera House. Notes to Editors Autobiography (v95 and v96) Produced by Studio Wayne McGregor. Co-produced by Sadler’s Wells, London, UK; Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg; Edinburgh International Festival, UK; Festspielhaus St Pölten, Austria; Carolina Performing Arts at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; Movimentos Festwochen der Autostadt in Wolfsburg, Germany. The original production of Autobiography was co-produced by Sadler’s Wells Co-commissioned by West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong; Festival Diaghilev. P.S., St Petersburg, Russia; Centro Cultural Vila Flor, Guimarães, Portugal; Seattle Theatre Group, USA (music); Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London, UK. Music by Jlin in partnership with Unsound Wayne McGregor is a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist and Company Wayne McGregor is Resident Company at Sadler's Wells Supported by The Monument Trust, in partnership with Wellcome Genomics Campus, Wellcome Sanger Institute and the European Bioinformatics Institute. Kindly supported by Brenda Leff UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey A co-production between Studio Wayne McGregor and The Royal Ballet in association with The Jim Henson Company. About Company Wayne McGregor Multi-award winning choreographer and director Wayne McGregor CBE founded his own company in 1993 as a creative engine for his pioneering projects and his life-long choreographic enquiry into thinking through and with the body. Company Wayne McGregor remains the crucible of his creative energy, where his most experimental work is realised. Company Wayne McGregor is Resident Company at Sadler’s Wells, London. With over 30 works created by McGregor, the company has toured to more than 50 countries, visiting some of the world’s most prestigious theatres, as well as creating site specific performances at the Venice Biennale Danza, Frieze London, Roundhouse, Barbican Curve, Secret Cinema, and performing at The Brits, New York and London Fashion Week and the BBC Proms. Company Wayne McGregor sits within Studio Wayne McGregor, the organization which supports the breadth of McGregor’s artistic collaborations in dance, visual arts, film, theatre, opera, fashion and music video; a portfolio of international commissions; highly specialized creative learning programmes for individuals and communities; artist development initiatives; and collaborative research projects across the interface of the arts with science, technology and academic research. About Wayne McGregor Wayne McGregor CBE is internationally renowned for his trailblazing innovations in performance that have radically redefined dance in the modern era. McGregor’s multi-dimensional works resulting from interactions with an array of artistic forms, scientific disciplines, and technological interventions have ensured his position at the cutting edge of contemporary arts for over 3 decades. He is Artistic Director of Studio Wayne McGregor, encompassing creative collaborations in dance, film, music, visual art, technology, and science; learning and research programmes; and a touring company of dancers Company Wayne McGregor, the first resident company at Sadler’s Wells which celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2023. McGregor is also Resident Choreographer at The Royal Ballet, Director of Dance for the Venice Biennale, and is regularly commissioned by and has works in the repertories of the most important dance companies around the world including Paris Opera Ballet, La Scala, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet and Australian Ballet. He is in demand as a choreographer for theatre (Old Vic, National Theatre, Royal Court, Donmar), opera (La Scala/Royal Opera, ENO), film (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Legend of Tarzan, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, 1, 2, 3 Sing, Mary Queen of Scots), and music videos (Radiohead, The Chemical Brothers). McGregor choreographed the highly anticipated ABBA Voyage concert which premiered in London in May 2022. McGregor is Professor of Choreography at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. McGregor’s work has earned him Four Critics’ Circle Awards, two Time Out Awards, two South Bank Show Awards and two Olivier awards. In January 2011 McGregor was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for Services to Dance, and in 2021 was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Prix de Lausanne. About Sadler’s Wells       Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance organisation. We strive to make and share dance that inspires us all. Our acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap.        We commission, produce and present more dance than any other organisation in the world. Since 2005, we have helped to bring more than 200 new dance works to the stage, embracing both the popular and the unknown. Our acclaimed productions tour the world. Since 2005 we’ve produced 64 new full-length works and performed to audiences of more than two million, touring to 51 countries.     Each year, over half a million people visit our three London theatres - Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Lilian Baylis Studio and Peacock Theatre. Millions more attend our touring productions nationally and internationally or explore our digital platforms, including Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage.       Sadler’s Wells East    In 2024 we’re opening a fourth London venue in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Sadler’s Wells East will house a 550-seat mid-scale theatre, as well as facilities for the new Rose Choreographic School and the hip hop theatre training centre, Academy Breakin’ Convention.    Sadler’s Wells East joins the rich cultural heritage of Stratford, opening in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of the East Bank development alongside the BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion, UCL and the V&A. Sadler’s Wells East will support artist development and training, and the creation of new work. It will build the infrastructure for dance and make it accessible to more people. Sadler’s Wells East will house a flexible theatre presenting a wide variety of dance performances. Community will be at the heart of Sadler’s Wells East with a large open foyer that can be used by everyone as a meeting or performance space. There will also be dance studios and world-class dance facilities for dancemakers to train, create and rehearse productions.      Supporting artists   Supporting artists is at the heart of our work. We have associate artists and companies, which nurture some of the most exciting talent working in dance today. We host the National Youth Dance Company, which draws together some of the brightest young dancers from across the country. Sadler’s Wells Breakin' Convention runs professional development programmes to champion and develop the world’s best hip hop artists, as well as producing, programming and touring groundbreaking hip hop performances.        Learning and community links   Around 30,000 people take part in our learning and engagement programmes every year. We support schools local to our theatres in Islington and Stratford, designing experiences for children and young people to watch, explore and critically engage with the arts. We also run Company of Elders, a resident performance company of dancers aged over 60 who rehearse with renowned artists to make new work for public performances locally, nationally and internationally.        Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.     www.sadlerswells.com     Stay up to date with everything Sadler’s Wells on social media      Facebook: @SadlersWells      Twitter: @Sadlers_Wells      Instagram: @sadlers_wells      YouTube: Sadler’s Wells Theatre     

BRB has a very strong fan-base in Plymouth built up over the years in part by them having a Friend volunteer (when the Friends really were Friends) encouraging people. She personally recruited over 200 members over the years when the company still thought Friends outside of Brum and London were worth the effort. A lot of people travel long distances up from Cornwall to see the company.

For anyone thinking about going to Plymouth please be aware that the performances are already heavily sold. I've abandoned my plans to go. The lesson to self is that if I want to go to Plymouth in the Autumn I book the tickets when they go on sale!

Not that I am aware of. I’ve seen on IG that LCB is making an announcement on 17th January. I think it will cover the tour dates (although a second venue after Bath - Cheltenham - has already been announced).

Wednesday 10 January 2024 Sadler’s Wells announces the next cohort of National Youth Dance Company and National Tour of Oona Doherty’s Wall National Youth Dance Company (NYDC), England’s flagship company for young dancers which is run by Sadler’s Wells, has selected the intake for its 2023/24 cohort. With 32 dancers, aged between 16 and 24 years old, and hailing from 21 towns, cities and villages across England, from Winchester to Durham, Penzance to Folkestone, it’s a truly nationwide company. These young dancers join Guest Artistic Director Oona Doherty to work on brand new work Wall, which premieres at Leeds Playhouse on Saturday 13 April, before touring the country. If you spoke to Britain what would it say? Wall asks a group of young people from around England to say what they think – the good, the bad, and the ugly. The old and new... Oona Doherty creates a new work in which the dancers keep getting up and keep showing us their real strength and beauty, in a repetitive movement of resistance, stamina, and will. Their greatness in Britain. Wall features music by Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Leckey, lighting design by founding member of Malaprop TheatreJohn Gunning, and costume design is by Ryan Dawson Laight who has worked extensively in theatre and dance. Award-winning photographer and video maker Luca Truffarelli is the audio, photo and video collaborator. NYDC alumni Nya Bardouille is Assistant to the choreographer. Wall premieres on Saturday 13 April at Leeds Playhouse, before touring to Wakefield, Falmouth, Ipswich, Latitude Festival, Leicester and London, including a performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre on Saturday 13 July. The 32 dancers of National Youth Dance Company’s new cohort for 2023/24 are: Aleesha Moyo (Leeds), Anya Rakshit (Derby), Aoibh Ryan (Manchester), Ayuna Berbidaeva (London), Charly Knights (Leamington Spa), Daisy Bilsland (Ashford), Ernie Shorten (Somerset), Francis Henry (Leeds), Frank Thorpe (Sheffield), Fue Akama (Huddersfield), Georgia Coulson (Penzance), Gilbert Dicks (Cambridge), James Airey (Chesterfield), Kitty Newton (Haslemere), Lina Kasasa (London), Luis Green (Folkestone), Luke James (Birmingham), Maisie Lincoln (Ipswich), Matthew Atkinson (Durham), Meeri Niva (London), Megan Chaytor Wilson (Durham), Megan Georges (London), Monét Brooks (London), Morgan Heimsoth (Newbury), Otis De Ville Morel (Okehampton), Phoebe Mufushwa (Winchester), Rosa Boadle-Soumah (Leeds), Roselynn Gumbo (Manchester), Rowan Williams (Somerset), Ruben Morais (Devon), Venus Shury (London), Wray Maxwell-Mulligan (Manchester). Covering all regions across the country, 13 workshops took place between April- July 2023 to select the new members for the 2023/24 intake. All dancers are aged 16-24 and come from a range of different dance backgrounds. During the dancers’ time with NYDC, they are offered a unique insight into the dance profession, living and working closely together as a company, alongside NYDC staff and the artistic team. The year-long experience within the company provides members with the necessary skills and techniques to find career opportunities and raise aspirations, self-esteem and confidence. The dancers are mentored during four intensive residencies in school holidays to create and rehearse a new piece by the company’s Guest Artistic Director. The 2023/24 residencies will take place in Suffolk, Birmingham, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. Guest Artistic Director, Oona Doherty said, “I’m amazed at the creativity, stamina, and energy of the company. It's infectious, and inspiring to get to work with the next generation of performers and dance makers. As well as a learning curve into the professionalism of ‘care’ by the whole NYDC team. I think many choreographers and companies could learn a lot by collaborating with NYDC. I'm excited to see what we as a team will create and share. It makes me proud to work in dance.” Head of National Youth Dance Company, Hannah Kirkpatrick said, “This is our twelfth cohort of NYDC dancers, and we are really excited to share the piece they are creating with Oona. Each dancer brings their own experience into the company, and they represent all the brilliant and varied training programmes and youth groups across England. Being in NYDC is as much about learning how to work within a company, as it is about creating a new dance piece. NYDC is about 32 young people showing why dance is important to them and what they can achieve together if given the opportunity, platform and resource to do so.” NYDC is jointly funded by Arts Council England from Lottery and Grant in Aid Resources, and the Department for Education Barclays is the Associate Partner of National Youth Dance Company NOTES TO EDITORS Listings information National Youth Dance Company Tour Dates 2023 Leeds Leeds Playhouse Saturday 13 April at 7:30 pm Wakefield CAPA College Sunday 30 June at 7 pm Falmouth AMATA Arts Centre, Falmouth University Sunday 7 July at 7:30 pm London Sadler’s Wells Saturday 13 July at 7:30 pm Ipswich DanceEast Saturday 20 July at 7:30 pm London Bold Tendencies Thursday 25 July at 8 pm Suffolk Latitude Festival Saturday 27 July Leicester The Curve Monday 29 July at 7:30 pm About NYDC Founded in 2012, and hosted at Sadler’s Wells, NYDC is an exciting young company that creates and performs innovative and influential dance, drawing together some of the brightest young talent from across the country. NYDC is jointly funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education. Since NYDC’s inception in 2012:  336 dancers have joined the company, working intensively with renowned dance artists including Guest Artistic Directors: Jasmin Vardimon (2012-13), Akram Khan (2013-14), Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (2014-15), Michael Keegan Dolan (2015-16), Damien Jalet (2016-17), Sharon Eyal (2017-18) Botis Seva (2018-19), Russell Maliphant (2019-20) and Alesandra Seutin (2020-2022). These 310 dancers come from over 80 different towns and cities in England. Over 7000 young people have worked with the company NYDC has reached an audience of over 50,000 people   NYDC has featured in 94 performances, visiting 26 different venues across the UK, including some leading theatres in the country About Sadler’s Wells     Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance organisation. We strive to make and share dance that inspires us all. Our acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap.   We commission, produce and present more dance than any other organisation in the world. Since 2005, we have helped to bring more than 200 new dance works to the stage, embracing both the popular and the unknown. Our acclaimed productions tour the world. Since 2005 we’ve produced 64 new full-length works and performed to audiences of more than two million, touring to 51 countries.   Each year, over half a million people visit our three London theatres - Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Lilian Baylis Studio and Peacock Theatre. Millions more attend our touring productions nationally and internationally or explore our digital platforms, including Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage. Sadler’s Wells East In 2024 we’re opening a fourth London venue in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Sadler’s Wells East will house a 550-seat mid-scale theatre, as well as facilities for the new Rose Choreographic School and the hip hop theatre training centre, Academy Breakin’ Convention. Sadler’s Wells East joins the rich cultural heritage of Stratford, opening in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of the East Bank development alongside the BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion, UCL and the V&A. Sadler’s Wells East will support artist development and training, and the creation of new work. It will build the infrastructure for dance and make it accessible to more people. Sadler’s Wells East will house a flexible theatre presenting a wide variety of dance performances. Community will be at the heart of Sadler’s Wells East with a large open foyer that can be used by everyone as a meeting or performance space. There will also be dance studios and world-class dance facilities for dancemakers to train, create and rehearse productions. Supporting artists Supporting artists is at the heart of our work. We have associate artists and companies, which nurture some of the most exciting talent working in dance today. We host the National Youth Dance Company, which draws together some of the brightest young dancers from across the country. Sadler’s Wells Breakin' Convention runs professional development programmes to champion and develop the world’s best hip hop artists, as well as producing, programming and touring groundbreaking hip hop performances.   Learning and community links Around 30,000 people take part in our learning and engagement programmes every year. We support schools local to our theatres in Islington and Stratford, designing experiences for children and young people to watch, explore and critically engage with the arts. We also run Company of Elders, a resident performance company of dancers aged over 60 who rehearse with renowned artists to make new work for public performances locally, nationally and internationally.   Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.   www.sadlerswells.com   Stay up to date with everything Sadler’s Wells on social media    Facebook: @SadlersWells    Twitter: @Sadlers_Wells    Instagram: @sadlers_wells    YouTube: Sadler’s Wells Theatre About Oona Doherty Oona Doherty was born in 1986 in London. Doherty moved to Belfast when she was 10 and studied at St Louise’s comprehensive college in Belfast, The London School of Contemporary Dance, University of Ulster and LABAN London. From 2010 she performed with various companies, including: TRASH (NL), Abattoir Fermé (BE), Veronika Riz (IT), Emma Martin/United Fall (ROI), Enda Walsh & Landmark Productions (ROI). Doherty created her first solo work Hope Hunt and the Ascension into Lazarus in 2016. With this performance, she was awarded the “Tiger Dublin Fringe Festival Best Performer Award” in 2016 and the winner of the “Total Theatre Dance Award” at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017 and the 1st Audience place and judge’s 1st place at Reconnaissance in Grenoble in 2017, which was voted "No. 1 British dance performance of 2019" by the Guardian. In 2019 she created Lady Magma: The Birth of a Cult. That same year, her work was highlighted at the rencontres chorégraphiques de Seine Saint Denis, (FR). Doherty’s distinctive and visceral choreography has sparked international attention, earning multiple awards, amazing reviews and prestigious artistic opportunities both in Ireland, Europe and worldwide. She creates intense, compelling works that appeal for societal change. She has forged a wide range of artistic relationships locally and internationally. In August 2022, Doherty created her first major group piece, Navy Blue for 12 dancers, a ballet with music by Sergei Rachmaninov and original creation by Jamie xx. In July 2023, Doherty moved to Marseille and her company The OD Works also moved. Doherty is currently working on a new piece on the border between dance, theatre and performance: Specky Clark - A series of theatrical images. It is due to premiere at the Pavillon Noir in November 2024. Doherty will be associate artist of the CCN d'Aix-en-Provence - Pavillon Noir, for the 2024/25 season. Doherty was awarded the Venice Biennale Silver Lion in 2021 and was one of the Aerowaves 2017 selected artists, an Associate Artist at Maison de la Danse de Lyon (FR) in 2017/18, Doherty was Dublin Dance Festival Artist in Residence in 2020/22 and a Big Pulse Dance Alliance Artist in 2021/23. About John Gunning John Gunning is an alumnus of Dublin Youth Theatre and a founding member of Malaprop Theatre. Gunning’s lighting credits with Malaprop include Hothouse, Where Sat The Lovers, Everything Not Saved, Jericho, BlackCatfishMusketeer, and LOVE+. Gunning’s other credits include This Solution (Shaun Dunne), Navy Blue (Oona Doherty), Mosh (Rachel Ní Bhraonain),Tiny Plays 24/7, Tiny Plays For A Brighter Future (Fishamble), Venus in Furs (Rough Magic SEEDS),The Roaring Banshees (Devious Theatre Co.), We Can’t Have Monkeys in the House (Sad Strippers), Bulrusher, The Three Sisters, The Laramie Project, Demons (Lir Academy), and The Egg Is A Lonely Hunter (Hannah Mamalis). About Ryan Dawson Laight Ryan Dawson Laight is a Costume and Set Designer, working extensively in theatre and dance. Dawson Laight’s dance credits include Mama for Botis Seva (Sadler’s Wells and International Tour), Neighbours for Brigel Gjoka, Rauf “RubberLegz” Yasit & Ruşan Filiztek created in collaboration with William Forsythe (Sadler’s Wells and International Tour), A Tale of Two Cities for Lost Dog/Ben Duke (International Tour), Speak Volumes, Quartier Paradis for Alessandra Seutin (NYDC/Sadler’s Wells), Botis Seva’s Good Youts Walk (Tour), Botis Seva's BLKDOG (Sadler’s Wells, Olivier Award Best New Dance 2019); Blak Whyte Gray (Boy Blue/Barbican, Olivier Award Nomination 2018); REDD (Boy Blue/Barbican Theatre); Madhead (NYDC/Sadler's Wells); Wasteland, Coal (Gary Clark Company, UK Theatre Award for Achievement in Dance); Toro, Mariposa, Ham and Passion (DeNada Dance Theatre); Drew McOnie's Drunk (Leicester Curve/Bridewell Theatre) and Good Morning Midnight (Jermyn Street Theatre); Genius (Anjali); New Ways Of Living (Pink Fringe Brighton); Je Suis (Aakash Odedra Company/Lillian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells); Ruffle (Carlos Pons Guerra/Rambert Dance/Lowry Theatre); Hear Hear (Deaf Men Dancing, Sadler’s Wells). Dawson Laight has been a visiting designer and lecturer at BRIT School (Croydon), University of Chichester, Aiglon College (Switzerland), ALRA, London Studio Centre, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Trinity Laban, Tring School of Performing Arts, as well as delivering workshops for the Victoria and Albert Museum, Working Title Films, Chichester Festival Theatre, and his own workshops from his studio (Backstage Design Workshop). About Mark Leckey Mark Leckey (born 1964, Birkenhead), is a contemporary artist working with a variety of media including film, sound, sculpture and performance. His work explores the relationship between popular culture and technology and explores the subjects of anxiety, class and nostalgia. In 2008 Leckey won the Turner Prize for his exhibition Industrial Light and Magic and has had recent solo exhibitions at Tate Britain (London), MOMA PS1 (New York), SMK Denmark (Copenhagen), Kunsthalle Basel (Basel) and Haus der Kunst (Munich). His most recent project, In The Offing, opened at Turner Contemporary, Margate on 7 October 2023. About Luca Truffarelli Luca Truffarelli is a freelance photographer and video maker, who in recent years has started experimenting in the field of visual arts and sound/set design. Truffarelli has been involved in contemporary dance and theatre works as a photographer/video maker, visual/set designer and artistic collaborator. Truffarelli has received awards on several film projects including best documentary at DIFF 2023 for the film Notes from Sheepland by Cara Holmes and worked with directors such as Ingrid Nachstern and Shaun Dunne whose work have been featured in several international film festivals. In 2020 Truffarelli was D.O.P. on Welcome to a Bright White Limbo directed by Cara Holmes which was awarded an IFTA for best Irish short. Truffarelli’s most recent work includes collaboration with acclaimed choreographers and companies Oona Doherty/OD Works, Philip Connaughton Dance, Liz Roche Company, Junk Ensemble, Emma Martin/United Fall, Catherine Young Dance, Thibaut Eiferman/ENTITY (Paris), and NYDC Sadler’s Wells (London). Truffarelli made his first solo dance piece THE WEIGHT as a director and creator at The Complex in Dublin in November 2023. About Nya Bardouille Nya Bardouille is a holistic movement and massage practitioner from North London. Bardouille’s practice involves embodying self-nourishing behaviours and learning how to listen to the body’s intuitive and instinctual desires for self-given intimacy. The connection between mind, body and movement for Bardouille is enriched by touch - being able to share the gift of indulging in moving for comfort, craving and softness is how she encourages people to reconnect, heal and live in the homes that are our bodies. Bardouille currently freelances as a Physical Support Advisor/Rehab Strength & Conditioning Coach for London Contemporary Dance School and the Centre for Advanced Training scheme at The Place, as well as practicing sports and deep tissue massage under the alias BODY LANGUAGE practice. Bardouille’s recent performance projects include US and EU tours with DJ Jamie xx, ‘Hang In There, Baby’ by John-William Watson and ‘Inside Outside’ music video for This Is The Kit.

Press Release Wednesday 10 January 2024 Richard Chappell Dance Hot House UK Tour Monday 4 March - Friday 5 April 2024 www.richardchappelldance.co.uk Following its successful premiere last year, Richard Chappell Dance is thrilled to announce the return of its latest work Hot House, which tours this spring to Oxford Playhouse as part of Dancin’ Oxford festival (4 March), The House, Plymouth (6 March), Blackwood Miners Institute, Caerphilly (20 March), and Barnsley Civic (5 April). More venues for the autumn will be announced later in the year. Hot House is a bold, transformational evening that celebrates the joy of movement and music in a setting where concert meets bonfire. A passionate response to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, this topical work shares the frustration currently felt by many, turning that intense energy into a powerful celebration of collective generosity. Providing a space for people to come together and be uplifted by the Company's extraordinary ensemble of performers, this show features a soundscape influenced by Chinese, Indian and European classical music, rearranged and performed by violinist Enyuan Khong and electronic music duo Larch. Alongside the performances Richard Chappell Dance will work in the local community in Plymouth with young people and Exim Dance Company and with older people through Elder Tree. In Eastleigh, Richard Chappell will create a new work with Hampshire Youth Dance and also lead a series of workshops for local secondary schools in parternship with The Point. Ahead of the tour of Hot House Richard Chappell Dance will perform an excerpt from Infinite Ways Home at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter (21 February) as part of an Evening of Contemporary Performance, offering local audiences the chance to see the company’s much celebrated first mid-scale creation. Based in the South West of England, Richard Chappell Dance has created memorable and moving dance experiences for audiences across the UK and internationally for the last decade. The company works at the forefront of collaboration presenting work on stage, screen and in person through large scale participatory projects. Recent works include Infinite Ways Home, which toured to 10 venues across the UK, Heart Land commissioned by BBC Arts and One Dance UK and a Supporting Acts programme that helped nurture and develop the talent of early year artists. Artistic Director and choreographer Richard Chappell said: “The idea for this work was born out of the dire circumstances people faced, with rapidly rising energy, food and fuel prices making simply living a challenge. A year later and we’re still facing the same issues. Heat has become a commodity and Hot House is an opportunity for us to come together to cultivate energy in protest at the economic and political state of the country. Hot House celebrates our love and kindness for one another, which is more important now than ever before.” Hot House was commissioned by Dance City and supported by Arts Council England and The Linbury Trust, with residency support from Dance City, Exeter Phoenix, National Dance Company Wales, DanceEast and Theatre Royal Plymouth. Listings Richard Chappell Dance Infinite Ways Home (excerpt as part of an Evening of Contemporary Performance) Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter Wednesday 21 February from 6.30pm Tickets: £6 (£4 conc.) https://rammuseum.org.uk Richard Chappell Dance Hot House Oxford Playhouse Monday 4 March 2024 at 7.30pm Tickets: £14 (£5 conc.) https://oxfordplayhouse.com Richard Chappell Dance Hot House The House, Plymouth Saturday 6 March 2024 at 7.30pm Tickets: £12 (£10 conc. Free for students) https://plymouth.ac.uk Richard Chappell Dance Hot House Blackwood Miners Institute, Caerphilly Wednesday 20 March 2024 at 7.30pm Tickets: £15 (£12 conc.) https://blackwoodminersinstitute.com Richard Chappell Dance Hot House Barnsley Civic Friday 5 April 2024 at 7.30pm Tickets: £12 (£6 conc.) https://civicbarnsley.ticketsolve.com

In respect of Samara it was announced by the company ages ago that she would be transitioning onto the ballet staff but that doesn't seem to have happened yet ... or at least is not reflected on the website yet.

Casting for the whole tour has now been announced. I'm very pleased to see that Cesar is dancing the Prince (with glorious Miki) but am devastated that I will not be able to see Beatrice and Tzu-Chao. https://www.brb.org.uk/shows/the-sleeping-beauty Scroll down for venue/date/cast - no easy way to reproduce.