Jan McNulty

That is wonderful Cathy, your heart must be bursting with pride. Jx

Links - Friday, November 07, 2014 Obituary – Kevin Berry, Arts Journalist: Liz Arratoon, Guardian Review – DV8, John, London: Lyndsey Winship, Standard Review – Thomas Adès Bill, See the Music, Hear the Dance, London: Donald Hutera, London Dance Review - Gibney Dance, Double Plus series, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review – Shaun Parker and Company, AM I, Melbourne: Jordan Beth Vincent, DanceTabs Review - Dancing Dad, London: Lyn Gardner, Guardian Review – Riotous Company, Insomnia, Manchester: David Chadderton, British Theatre Guide Review - Black Grace, Xmas Verses, Auckland: Dr Linda Ashley, NZ Theatreview

Broadbrush figures: Population of London urban area - 10m Population of rest of England 43m Why should the majority of people living in England not have have equity with those living in the London urban area? There is an issue with ballet outside the capital which I cannot think of a way around without taking financial risk. For many years (certainly during most of my time as a ballet watcher) the touring companies have tended to take works they know would sell and gradually we have got out of the habit of mixed programmes and more adventurous works. It really is a chicken and egg situation because the audience would have to be built up gradually to get used to mixed programmes again but could the companies afford to take the losses while they do so?

As far as I am aware trains from Victoria do not go to Oxford Road but trains from Piccadilly do. For anyone using Transpenine routes you need to be aware that there is a new route between Liverpool and Leeds that goes via Victoria not Piccadilly.

I have just found an item on the BRB website that gives the news that Christopher Barron is stepping down as CE of BRB in July 2015. Here is the news. On a personal note I have seen Christopher Barron at virtually every venue I have been to over the last 10 years (so that is a lot!). He always has time to chat to the Friends who accost him! I will miss his presence in the theatres when he leaves BRB.

Oh I would second the recommendation for the little cafe at the bottom of the Oxford Rd station entrance road. Unless it's changed its name it's called Java.

Northern Ballet Press Release: Award nominations continue for Northern Ballet Northern Ballet is proud to have received a nomination for Outstanding Company at the 2014 National Dance Awards with additional recognition for dancer Kevin Poeung, who has been nominated for the Emerging Artist Award. The awards celebrate achievements in dance in the UK from September 2013 to August 2014. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 26 January 2015 and are chosen after a vote by more than 50 dance writers and critics from theCritics’ Circle. The Leeds-based Company has been nominated for the Stef Stefanou Award for Outstanding Company at the 2014 National Dance Awards along with leading International companies English National Ballet, Mark Morris Dance Group, Stuttgart Ballet and Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch. In September 2014 Northern Ballet won the Best European Company award at the Taglioni European Ballet Awards. Coryphée dancer Kevin Poeung has been nominated for the Emerging Artist Award alongside Francesca Hayward (The Royal Ballet), Drew McOnie (choreographer, The McOnie Company), Marcelino Sambé (The Royal Ballet) and Alexander Whitley (choreographer, Alexander Whitley Dance Company). Poeung, who joined Northern Ballet from English National Ballet School in 2012, has performed various soloist roles with Northern Ballet, creating the Young Prince in Cinderella and most recently taking on the role of Renfield in Dracula where he ‘tore himself to shreds in his manic portrayal of insanity with a physical and dramatic talent promising much for the future’ (Sunday Express). Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director David Nixon OBE said: “I am thrilled that the Company and Kevin have been recognised with these nominations. Between September 2013 and August 2014 we held the world première of our new Cinderella, performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream in China and sold out the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Studio Theatre on our inaugural visit in May 2014. In addition to Cinderella, we performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Christmas Carol,Cleopatra and two children’s ballets, Ugly Duckling and Three Little Pigs, in 36 theatres across the UK totalling 240 performances. Northern Ballet is committed to creating and touring innovative productions throughout the UK and reaching as many people as possible with world-class ballet. Kevin Poeung is a very unique dancer and I am not surprised that his extraordinary talent is being honoured by a nomination for Emerging Artist. He is an incredibly gifted, versatile dancer and a humble young man and I look forward to continuing to nurture his outstanding talent.” Northern Ballet specialises in creating and touring full-length narrative ballets and will hold the UK première of Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Romeo and Juliet in February 2015 followed by the world première of 1984, an adaptation of the George Orwell novel by Jonathan Watkins, in autumn 2015. For detailed information on Northern Ballet’s extensive national tour, visit northernballet.com. -ENDS- Notes to Editors Voted Best Company at the 2014 Taglioni European Ballet Awards, Northern Ballet is one of the UK’s five large ballet companies. Based in Leeds it performs throughout the UK as well as overseas. Northern Ballet’s productions mix classical dance and theatre, embracing popular culture and taking inspiration from literature, opera, or giving a unique interpretation of popular classical ballets. Northern Ballet is the busiest touring ballet company in the UK and is typically on the road for around 32 weeks of the year. The Company of 46 dancers tours a combination of full-length new work and established repertoire to cities throughout the UK and is the only large scale ballet company to do so. The Company tours widely with its ballets for children, the first two of which were adapted for TV by CBeebies, and also performs a Mixed Programme annually showcasing the versatility of the its dancers. Visit northernballet.com for more information on the Company and tour.

Northern Ballet now seem to have published the full details for the Spring Season, including the mid-scale tour of an abridged Madame Butterfly with Perpetuum Mobile: http://northernballet.com/?q=whats-on Scroll down the page.

Northern Ballet have put up a nice feature on the Company website about the background to the photo shoots for Romeo and Juliet and Wuthering Heights. The images published so far are sensational (IMHO). http://northernballet.com/?q=blogs/lauren-godfrey/14-11-04/capturing-the-heart-of-the-ballet&utm_source=Northern+Ballet+enewsletter&utm_campaign=b1b00bdd02-enewsNov14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3c3bebf4a1-b1b00bdd02-126761641

No Fonty it wasn't specifically aimed at you but I am getting a bit uncomfortable with this thread.

I really think this thread is getting a bit too personal. If we could please keep it more general about the spouses and children of celebrities seeming to get opportunities because of who their spouse or parent is. I do not know the Beckhams or their children but I will never forget David Beckham and his interaction with the young disabled girl at the Manchester Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. I would say that their children are being brought up in a loving and caring environment first and foremost.

I find the provision of hand cream quite bizarre. In most places you was your hands then have to move elsewhere to dry them and, by the time you get back to use the cream someone else is at the sink so you can't get to it! If hand cream is to be provided then perhaps it should be placed by the towels/driers.

Hello Ben, Thanks for posting details of the audition. I have moved your post to Doing Dance so that it is more likely to be seen by our DP and DC members.

I very much suspect you are correct Ian. We already know that the company is giving up one touring week from April 2015 when the new funding agreements come into place. I suspect that the company will give up the Coli summer season because of both ENO's already stated intention to show big musicals and the fact that the Coli is apparently a very expensive venue to use. I think the company is more likely to make more from a successful winter season. Of course it is not unprecedented for ENB to appear at the Wells, for example a programme including the premiere of Swan Song was put on there plus the company premier of Cruel Garden and that was in the late 1980s in the Peter Schauffus days when Christopher Bruce was commissioned to make several works for the company. It will be interesting to see what else the company plans for London because a couple of weeks of mixed programmes is less than they do now in the Capital.

http://walkit.com/

Congratulations to all the nominees.

This looks absolutely fantastic. Is it only available to students on a specific course or at a specific college?

We already have Stitch, in the final section of David Bintley's magnificent Orpheus Suite when Apollo's suit lit up!

Well it looks like Alexander Campbell may be dancing as he has tweeted that he is on his way there!

I've noticed that, not all the time, both my Windows phone and ipad seem to lose my log on and I have to sign in again. I think with the phone that it periodically clears its caches and that is why it is lost, can't comment on the ipad.

I suppose that depends Chrischris on whether the way they are currently performed finds the essence of the role as it was created or if it has become fuzzy and diluted with time. I know we have had discussions about this sort of thing in the past, but I don't like the six o'clock extensions inserted into 19th century classics and I find that some of the more extreme of standard moves take longer to execute so perhaps the fleetness of foot required in a lot of Ashton is lost or indeed the exquisite upper body movements.

Having rooted around a bit, I think the Alejandro Virelles film is from his time at BNC. I found another clip of this choreography by another BNC dancer.

I'd like to but transport on a Sunday is problematic. I don't think the tickets are on sale yet.

Scottish Ballet presents Peter Darrell’s THE NUTCRACKER 13 December 2014 – 3 January 2015, Festival Theatre EDINBURGH 7 – 10 January 2015, Theatre Royal GLASGOW 14 – 17 January 2015, His Majesty’s Theatre, ABERDEEN 21 – 24 January 2015, Eden Court INVERNESS 11 – 14 February 2015, Theatre Royal NEWCASTLE Choreography: Peter Darrell CBE Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Design: Lez Brotherston Lovingly recreated for audiences across Scotland and beyond, this winter Scottish Ballet proudly presents Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker, touring Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Newcastle. Crafted for Scotland by the Company’s founding Artistic Director, a famous story-teller and an incredible dance-maker, this Nutcracker is full of magical memories. Audiences can now, once again, share this dream-making production with families and friends, over forty years since it first premiered. After a fun-filled Christmas party full of magic and celebrations, young Clara falls asleep and dreams that she helps the Nutcracker Prince to defeat an army of giant mice. She is rewarded by a visit to the glittering Land of Ice and Snow, where snowflakes come to life, sparkling as they dance – and the magical Kingdom of Sweets – the enchanted Realm of the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy. “I’d known about Darrell’s production of The Nutcracker when I was a child. The images of the hanging baubles in Act Two was in just about every dance book there was,” explains Scottish Ballet’s Artistic Director Christopher Hampson on his choice to reintroduce Darrell’s Nutcracker to audiences. “A Nutcracker production, for most ballet companies, is a very important part of the repertoire. It is normally the most performed work and needs to be something that will last for generations. Peter’s production had done that, but it needed to be rested so that it could be rediscovered again and brought back with a fresh perspective. It’s no accident that I’ve chosen a Darrell work to put at the very heart of our repertoire.” Peter Darrell’s magical world of The Nutcracker has been re-imagined for today’s audiences by Olivier Award winning designer Lez Brotherston, adding sumptuous layers of plush Victoriana and traditional festive fare to the original 1973 production. “This production will be as close to Peter’s original as possible - the point of bringing the production back is to see his beautiful, intricate choreography,” adds Hampson. “In terms of design, I asked Lez to take inspiration from the original designs. So, although they are different, there will still be a sense of the original production. “The essence of this being a family production is the key element – and we’ve looked to gently incorporate some new ideas for a new audience. We’ve been working closely with the Peter Darrell Trust to ensure that our new production has Peter’s intentions at its heart.” “The brief of the piece was unusual in that it existed before. It’s Peter’s production and it still feels like that – as it should do,” says Designer Lez Brotherston. “Peter’s original designer was Philip Prowse and that feels quite meaningful to me personally. Philip’s work was of great inspiration to me when I was at art school – he tutored me on my final-year designs and his influences have stayed with me. “It’s still set in the 1870s and has that sumptuous, rich Victoriana feeling – and there are bustles and tutus of course, but some of the costumes have been adapted to better show off the dancers’ line and the choreography. “Those who have seen the production before will remember Darrell’s famous Land of Sweeties – that’s still there although my sweeties are slightly different, and there’s a version of the Land of Snow too. My interpretation of the house is also a little different and maybe there’ll be something special about the toys that the children receive as Christmas presents – you’ll have to come along to see.” Darrell's enchanting production has claimed a special place in the hearts of audiences across Scotland for generations. It sparked the ballet careers of many young dancers who performed the roles of Clara and her brothers - including Scottish Ballet Principal Dancer Christopher Harrison who has seen his own dream come true and will be this time performing the star role of The Prince some twenty years later. Once again Scottish Ballet will welcome a very special cast of young, local dancers to the ranks of the Company's professionals for this inspiring production in which Clara, the littlest ballerina, is the one who visits the many magical worlds and saves the brave Nutcracker Prince.* Budding ballerinas and Nutcracker soldiers can also get involved in a range of fun Wee Nutcracker dance workshops in Glasgow and Edinburgh; download our special Fun Pack full of fun activities for kids to try at home or find out how Scottish Ballet's magical world of The Nutcracker is brought to life at Family Insights across the tour. Audio Described performances are also available, alongside free pre and post show talks where audiences can meet the dancers too. Adults can also indulge in some sugar-plum themed baked goods and dance sessions with Scottish Ballet's favourite tea-time treat, Ballet Cafe. Please see listings for more details. The Scottish Ballet Orchestra will also accompany the dancers live, performing the world famous Tchaikovsky score. *Read more about the children of Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker The children of Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker in 2014/15 will offer over 40 young people from across the country the chance to work alongside Artistic Director Christopher Hampson, Head of the Scottish Ballet Associates Programme Kerry Livingstone and Scottish Ballet’s dancers to learn, rehearse and perform as characters in the final production. Creating chances for young people to experience working with a professional company is vital to broadening the opportunities available and creating a thriving future for dance in Scotland – one that is particularly fitting for a Peter Darrell production, as he cast young dancers in his original production. The intended outcomes are to build on our history of developing classically-trained young dancers, taking talented youths on a magical journey where they are part of the story and theatre. These creative experiences can change lives. A number of existing Scottish Ballet dancers (such as Scottish Ballet Principal dancer Christopher Harrison), internationally reknowned choreographer Michael Clark and many others across ballet companies throughout the UK, were young dancers in Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker many years ago and have gone on to professional careers they might not have otherwise realised. Children were central to Darrell’s production, and we are keen to continue this legacy, with the central role of Clara being chosen from among this group of children. Children aged 9-12 auditioned for the life-changing opportunity of being involved in this professional production. For Edinburgh and Glasgow, almost 100 boys and girls from the Associate Programme and Dance School of Scotland auditioned, and the children for each performance were picked from five locations across Scotland and in Newcastle. Costume fittings have already taken place and they’ll begin rehearsing with Scottish Ballet from next week! LISTINGS LISTINGS: EDINBURGH Festival Theatre Edinburgh | 13/29 Nicolson St | Edinburgh | EH8 9FT Box Office 0131 529 6000 Book Online edtheatres.com PERFORMANCES Evenings 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30 December 2014 and 3 January 2015 Matinees 13, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, 31 December 2014 and 3 January 2015 BALLET CAFE Mon 15 December 2014 |2-5pm | Tickets £10 | Location: The Studio, Festival Theatre Edinburgh. To book contact Scottish Ballet on education@scottishballet.co.uk or 0141 331 6285. A fun and informal afternoon for adults where we invite you to take part in a gentle beginners' dance session, listen to an illustrated talk on our current production, and relax for a chat over a cup of tea and cake. PRE-SHOW TALKS Thu 18 December 2014 (Focus on dance) Fri 19 December 2014 (Focus on music) Sat 3 January 2015 (Focus on dance) 6.30pm - 7pm Tickets FREE. Book via venue. POST SHOW DISCUSSION Fri 19 December 2014 following 7.30pm performance Tickets FREE. No booking required. FAMILY INSIGHT Sat 3 Jan 2015 | 11am - 12.30pm Tickets £5.50, concession £3.50. Suitable for ages 6+. WAYS TO SAVE Concessions: £3 off for full-time students, unwaged, senior citizens, Young Scot cardholders and people with disabilities. Excludes Fri/Sat eves. Children: £3 off all performance. Family Ticket: Groups of 4 (max 2 adults) £110 (Wed-Thu eves/Sat mat), £90 (Thu mat). Stalls and Dress Circle only. Not available on premium seats. £10 Standby: Best available seats for under 26s, full-time students and unwaged. Only available in person from 12 noon on the day of the performance with a valid photo ID card or proof of status. Group Sales (8+) 0131 529 6005 £6 off Stalls and Dress Circle seats. Wed/Thu eves and Sat matinee only. WEE NUTCRACKER WORKSHOPS 29, 30 December 2014 Festival Theatre Edinburgh Book online at basket.scottishballet.co.uk Explore the story and movement from the ballet and enter Clara’s dream world full of marching soldiers, frozen ice fairies and enchanted sweets that come to life. No previous experience necessary, but please come prepared to dance. All participants should wear loose comfortable clothing, soft ballet shoes or bare feet and bring plenty of water. Please note both adult and child will participate in the 3-4 years’ class. Parents of children attending the older workshops are not permitted to stay. Wee Nutcracker Workshops will be running in Tramway in Glasgow (link to page with Glasgow dates and booking links) and the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh(link to page with Edinburgh dates and booking links). Each workshop costs £6 LISTINGS: GLASGOW Theatre Royal | 282 Hope Street | Glasgow | G2 3QA Box office 08448 11 21 21 Book online atgtickets.com PERFORMANCES Evenings 7, 8, 9, 10 January 2015, 7.30pm Matinees 8, 10 January 2015, 2.30pm Tickets £8.50–£36.50 BALLET CAFE Tue 6 January 2015 | 2-5pm | Tickets £10 | Location: Tramway, Glasgow. To book contact Scottish Ballet on education@scottishballet.co.uk or 0141 331 6285. A fun and informal afternoon for adults where we invite you to take part in a gentle beginners' dance session, listen to an illustrated talk on our current production, and relax for a chat over a cup of tea and cake. PRE-SHOW TALKS Thu 8 January 2015 (Focus on dance) Fri 9 January 2015 (Focus on music) Location Theatre Royal Tickets FREE. Book via venue. POST SHOW DISCUSSION Fri 9 January 2015 Tickets FREE. No booking required, the post-show discussion will take place in the theatre directly after the performance FAMILY INSIGHT Sat 10 January 2015 |11am - 12.30pm Tickets £5.50, concession £3.50. Suitable for ages 6+. WAYS TO SAVE Concessions- £3 off for full-time students, unwaged, under 16s, over 60s and people with disabilities. Available on price bands A-D for Mon-Thu evenings. £10 Standby Tickets - Best available seats for under 26s, full-time students and unwaged. Only available in person, one hour before performance with a valid photo ID card or proof of status. Family Ticket - Groups of 4 (max 2 adults) - £63 (Tue–Thu eves), £79 (Fri–Sat eves) Stalls and Upper Circle only. Group Sales 0844 871 7602 Groups 10+ save £4 per ticket Groups 20+ save £5 per ticket Groups 40+ save £6 per ticket Price bands A–C. Excludes Fri/Sat eves. WEE NUTCRACKER WORKSHOPS 13, 14, 20, 21 December 2014 Tramway, Glasgow Book online at basket.scottishballet.co.uk Explore the story and movement from the ballet and enter Clara’s dream world full of marching soldiers, frozen ice fairies and enchanted sweets that come to life. No previous experience necessary, but please come prepared to dance. All participants should wear loose comfortable clothing, soft ballet shoes or bare feet and bring plenty of water. Please note both adult and child will participate in the 3-4 years’ class. Parents of children attending the older workshops are not permitted to stay. Wee Nutcracker Workshops will be running in Tramway in Glasgow and the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh Each workshop costs £6 LISTINGS: ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre | Rosemount Viaduct | Aberdeen | AB25 1GL Box Office 01224 641122 Book Online aberdeenperformingarts.com PERFORMANCES Evenings 14, 15, 16, 17 January 2015 Matinees 15, 17 January 2015 Tickets £13.50 - £40.50 BALLET CAFE Tue 13 January 2015 | 2-5pm | Tickets £10 | Location: His Majesty’s Theatre. To book contact Scottish Ballet on education@scottishballet.co.uk or 01224 641122. A fun and informal afternoon for adults where we invite you to take part in a gentle beginners' dance session, listen to an illustrated talk on our current production, and relax for a chat over a cup of tea and cake. PRE-SHOW TALKS Thu 15 January 2015 (Focus on dance) Fri 16 January 2015 (Focus on music) 6.30pm - 7pm FREE. Book via venue. POST-SHOW DISCUSSION Fri 16 January 2015 after 7.30pm performance FREE. No booking required. FAMILY INSIGHT Sat 17 January 2015 | 11am - 12.30pm Tickets £5.50/£3.50 conc. Suitable for ages 6+. WAYS TO SAVE Concessions: £2 off for full-time students, unwaged, over 60s, Young Scot cardholders and people with disabilities. £4 off for under 16s. Excludes balcony. £10 Standby Tickets: Best available seats for under 26s, full-time students and unwaged. Only available in person from 12 noon on the day of the performance with a valid photo ID card or proof of status. Family Ticket: Groups of 4 (max 2 adults) £61 Wed/Thu eves only. £11 for each additional child. Stalls and Upper Circle only. Groups (8+) £2 off plus one free ticket for every 15 purchased. Excludes balcony. LISTINGS: INVERNESS Eden Court | Bishop’s Road | Inverness | IV3 5SA Box Office 01463 234 234 (bkg fee) Book Online eden-court.co.uk PERFORMANCES Evenings: 21 – 24 January 2015 at 7.30pm Matinees: Thu 22 & Sat 24 January 2015 at 2pm Tickets £15.50 - £29.50 BALLET CAFÉ Tue 20 January 2015 | 2-5pm | Tickets £10 | Location: Eden Court. To book contact Scottish Ballet oneducation@scottishballet.co.uk or 0141 331 6285. A fun and informal afternoon for adults where we invite you to take part in a gentle beginners' dance session, listen to an illustrated talk on our current production, and relax for a chat over a cup of tea and cake. PRE-SHOW TALKS Thu 22 January 2015 (Focus on dance) Fri 23 January 2015 (Focus on music) FREE. Book via venue. POST-SHOW DISCUSSION Fri 23 January 2015 after 7.30pm performance FREE. No booking required. FAMILY INSIGHT Sat 24 January 2015 | 11am - 12.30pm Tickets £5.50/£3.50 conc. Suitable for ages 6+. WAYS TO SAVE Concessions - £2 off for full-time students, unwaged, under 26s, over 60s and people with disabilities. Excludes balcony. £10 Standby Tickets - Best available seats for under 26s, full-time students and unwaged. Only available in person from 12 noon on the day of the performance with a valid photo ID card or proof of status. Groups of 10+ - Get one ticket free (10 for the price of 9) Family Ticket - Groups of 4 (max 2 adults) - £66 Wed/Thu eves and Sat mat £70 Fri/Sat eves LISTINGS: NEWCASTLE Theatre Royal | 100 Grey Street | NE1 6BR Box office 08448 11 21 21 Book online theatreroyal.co.uk Theatre Royal Wed 11 - Sat 14 Feb 2015 Evenings 11, 12, 13, 14 Feb 2015 Matinees 12, 14 Feb 2015 The revival of Peter Darrell’s The Nutcracker is generously supported by The Monument Trust

Ade Edmondson for Comic Relief: