Lynette H

The NT's River Stage is back for free outdoor performances in June James Cousins Company and others 16, 17 18 June. (Cousins is the choreographer for the Bridge Theatre's Guys and Dolls - on Sat afternoon there's a workshop where you can learn some of the choreography) https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/things-to-do/river-stage/james-cousins-company/ Also other events on 9 - 11 June and 23-25th June - https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/things-to-do/river-stage/

Kids Week discounted tickets for theatre in London go on sale on 13th June. Child under 17 goes free where an adult pays full price. There's a gig list of shows. From a dance perspective, I see Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet is in there. https://officiallondontheatre.com/kids-week/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=COMB_23_06_07 Kids Week Shows Announced (1)&spMailingID=48379114&spUserID=NzcxMTkyMzEyNTk2S0&spJobID=2480829700&spReportId=MjQ4MDgyOTcwMAS2

Thanks. Helps in planning ticket strategy.

I haven't managed to spot any details of what dates the Friends rehearsals are for the 2023/24 season. They don't seem to be up on the ROH web site. Can anyone point me to where these might be ?

It looks like Sadler's have added an extra date for BRB's Black Sabbath piece - Thurs 19th Oct at 2pm. It's the only date with much availability left - the other dates have only a handful of tickets available.

Interesting to see that the cinema season also includes Message in a Bottle (Kate Prince / Sting) from Sadler's Wells to be broadcast in in May 2024. I suppose this is similar to NT Live showing productions from theatres other than the National Theatre, which it does from time to time. Message in a Bottle returns to the Peacock in October 2023. https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/message-in-a-bottle-2023/ It's not clear whether they will be showing a recording from 2023 in 2024 or if there is another run scheduled for 2024. It's described as a "special screening" which might indicate not live.

The Barbican have announced more theatre and dance performances this year. These include Pam Tanowitz 11-14 October https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2023/event/pam-tanowitz-and-david-lang-song-of-songs "Pam Tanowitz joins forces with composer David Lang to bring this beautiful text to life in a glorious collage of music, poetry and movement that reimagines ancient rituals of love and courtship. " This link brings u theatre and dance performances https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/theatre-dance and includes some from Dance Umbrella. There's quite a mix here.

Try this https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/new-york-city-ballet/

The programme for this year's Festival has been announced. From a dance point of view it includes: Alvin Ailey Dance (before their visit to Sadler's Wells, but with similar programmes) Programme 1 23-25 Aug - Azure Barton Busk, Kyle Abraham Are you in your Feelings, Ailey Revelations https://www.eif.co.uk/events/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater-programme-1 Programme 2 24- 25 Aug Ailey - The River, Memoria, Revelations https://www.eif.co.uk/events/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater-programme-2 I don't think Memoria features at Sadler's Wells. L-E-V (Sharon Eyal / Gai Behar) The Brutal Journey of the heart 13 - 14 Ag https://www.eif.co.uk/events/chapter-3-the-brutal-journey-of-the-heart Phaedre / Minotaur 18 - 20 August. Kim Brandstrup https://www.eif.co.uk/events/phaedra-minotaur This was previously performed just for a couple of days in Bath last year. Not many people got to see it. I regretted not being able to get there as the cast was very tempting. (jonathan Goddard, Tommy Franzen) Here's a review from then to give you an idea. I hope this means that the work might tour later. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/aug/21/phaedra-and-minotaur-review-ustinov-studio-bath-kim-brandstrup-benjamin-britten-laurel-dalley-smith-jonathan-goddard-tommy-franzen-christine-rice-deboarh-warner

This was at Sadler's Wells last night. It's another version of Rite of Spring, this time a version in he classical Indian dance form, bharatanatyam. Unlike other recent takes on Rite at this address, this actually uses Stravinsky's music - played live with tremendous energy by the Bournemouth Symphony orchestra conducted by Kirill Karabits. You might think that this is an unlikely marriage, but it works brilliantly, with the noise of feet slapping against the floor underscoring the rhythms. It was good to see a performance of a new work with live music and where the dancers were so attractively costumed and the stage brightly lit: no gloom here. every tiny, intricate gesture could be read with clarity. This is a revised and expanded version of a work created in 2019. It is performed by a company of eleven, elegantly grouped and regrouped. Seeta Patel, the choreographer, does not appear in this but does perform a more classical bharatanatyam solo as an introductory piece (which does have a very dark beginning - this might be the primal chaos out of which the world is being created). The work is touring later this year - Basingstoke, Poole and Manchester. (No dates yet) Definitely something to check out if you can.

Another article from a front of house worker "Too often, theatre management refuses to take decisive action – more worried about customer backlash and social media comment than staff’s happiness and safety" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/22/front-of-house-theatres-audiences-managers-customers-staff

More on this theme "A theatre manager said conflict management training for staff was being considered amid an increase in "rowdy and potty-mouthed" audience members. Kai Aberdeen, manager of the Princes Theatre in Clacton, Essex, said the problem was becoming worse." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-64705348

There are lots of special offers associated with this - for ballet there is an offer on ENB's Cinderella in the round at the Royal Albert Hall this summer. And, incidentally for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre (choreography Arlene Philips with James Cousins) https://www.todaytix.com/london/category/london-theatre-week?utm_source=IterableMarketing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=LON_TT_LTW_MoreSeatsAdded_022223&userID=

Well, there might be another name to add to that. Yuri Possokhov has created works for SFB, and Rojo commissioned him to make a piece for ENB - Senseless Kindness. It was made originally for their Digital season in lockdown, and later performed on stage at Sadler's as part of their Reunion bill.

The "in conversation" with Laura Morera on 9th Feb in the Linbury was filmed (there were at least 3 cameras). She spoke about her feelings about retirement, favourite partners etc. In conversation events are not usually filmed. Maybe this one might appear at some point.

For a few years back in the 90s I think, Monday to Thursday performances were priced higher than Friday and Saturday. I recall that the thinking was that these weekday audiences were more "corporate" and would be ready to pay more.

Shame we don't seem to be getting the Dutch National Ballet Junior Company this year as part of the Next Generation festival. They have been excellent in previous visits.

There was the 1936 film, the Immortal Swan, put together after her death, featuring some clips of her. I recall it being shown in the Linbury theatre quite a few years back. More details here https://dancetabs.com/2012/08/anna-pavlova-on-screen-london/

I'm not sure if Ballets Jazz Montreal have been to the UK previously - I don't recall seeing them before and I wondered if anyone had seen them or had any opinions on them ? They are at Sadler's Wells in February, 7th to 11th. The programme is Dance Me, set to music by Leonard Cohen. There are three choreographers involved, Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Ishan Rustem. I've liked much of Ochoa's previous work, and was a bit curious about this. But I am rather put off booking because the tickets aren't sold by Sadler's Wells but are only available from an agency, Ticketek. They seem to be fairly expensive, and their web site is very unfriendly. I have trouble getting the choose your own option to work. If you select a price band it then offer you a ticket. Or maybe an error message. The ticket seems to be put in the basket automatically. There seems also to be a hefty booking fee as well as a service fee. Ticketek mainly sell tickets for rock concerts and the like. I can't see any phone number. I feel rather wary of booking - if your plans change the box office staff at Sadler's can be very accommodating and helpful. I hope this move to using external agencies doesn't become more common. Has anyone used this agency for anything else - any feedback ?

Looks like the ENB Swan Lake at the Coli is now sold out or very close to. Was it my imagination when I was browsing for tickets or was it really the case that the balcony was not on sale ? Did I imagine it ? If it wasn't available would they open it up now ?

Still available https://officiallondontheatre.com/show/swan-lake-111432321/?from=NYS&month=01%2F23 https://officiallondontheatre.com/show/matthew-bournes-sleeping-beauty-111437708/?from=NYS&month=01%2F23 https://officiallondontheatre.com/show/nutcracker-111432319/?from=NYS&month=01%2F23 TodayTix also lists offers here - including for ENB next June Cinderella at RAH https://www.todaytix.com/london/category/boxing-day?utm_source=IterableMarketing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=LON_TT_BoxingDay_MondayComms_122622_Segment1&userID= As ever you need to check whether they really are a bargain.

The Ballet Boyz guide to music and dance reflected on the music they had commissioned for their dance company and the interactions between composers and choreographers. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g9yy An interesting look at a subject not dealt with that often. Available for a month.

There's a collection of pictures of her at the Guardian web site https://www.theguardian.com/stage/gallery/2022/dec/11/beryl-grey-a-life-in-pictures Plus a brief article https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/dec/11/beryl-grey-a-bright-star-of-british-ballet-with-spark-poise-and-passion And a longer obituary https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/dec/11/beryl-grey-british-ballerina-dies

No, there is a technical fault. I can't log in either. The ROH chat function told me to check back in an hour. There's supposed to be an announcement on the site.

Just as an aside, I noticed that there did not seem to be anyone from the Balanchine Trust credited for the staging or coaching of Diamonds. In the recent past where the RB has performed works by Balanchine, the stager from the Trust was usually credited and I can recall some of them coming on at the opening performance to take a bow. Not every time perhaps. But not this time it seems. I did wonder why, or if anyone had any further info about this.