Alice Shortcake

I saw the matinee on Saturday and enjoyed it tremendously. There have been some interesting changes since this production was first staged in 2004 - the giggle-inducing dead swan no longer appears in the opening scene (for this relief, much thanks!), and the tulip-shaped skirts worn by the swans have been redesigned. The original semi-transparent wired skirts were pretty but probably rather awkward to dance in.

I hope this means that the show will eventually be made available on DVD. It's a shame that only one Northern Ballet production, 'A Christmas Carol', has been filmed - what I wouldn't give to own NB's marvellous 'Midsummer Night's Dream' on DVD!

'Coppelia' has been sold.

New listing: Paris Opera Ballet's "Coppelia", £14 including postage.

RB 'Don Quixote' has been sold.

You certainly can! I've sent you a message.

I saw NB's 'Swan Lake' when it was new and loved it. The tulip-shaped tutus for the swans weren't universally admired, but the Paul Poiret-inspired dresses for the other women were gorgeous. I just hope the horrible, obviously stuffed bird that inspired the hero's swan fetish will not make a reappearance in the revival! 'Jane Eyre' sounds interesting, but unfortunately it won't be playing at Leeds and that's the only place I can see NB.

I have the following DVDs for sale: Royal Ballet 'Don Quixote' - £14 including postage Cuban National Ballet 'Don Quixote' - £14 including postage Royal Danish Ballet 'Napoli' (new version) - £16 including postage All the above were duplicate gifts and have only been watched once.

Going back to something else mentioned in the OP, I've often thought that the Powell/Pressburger classic A Matter of Life and Death would make an interesting ballet...perhaps as a project for Matthew Bourne, were it not for the fact that there are a few nods to the film in his version of Cinderella.

The old Disney film 'Hans Christian Anderson' is worthless as a biopic but it's worth watching for a scene in which young Erik Bruhn dances with Zizi Jeanmaire.

Has anyone seen a cast list for the 'Lady of the Camellias' relay?

Oh, those disco lights round Giselle's grave! And I had to stifle a laugh when she appeared on the branch, for all the world like a fairy tumbling off a Christmas tree. But the real design flaw of the evening was that grotesque necklace.

Not only do I find the Lavrovsky R&J horribly dated, the pairing of Vishneva and Shklyarov just doesn't work for me. He is such a convincingly boyish Romeo he makes Vishneva look old enough to be his mother. And don't get me started on the wigs...

It sounds wonderful. I wonder if there's any possibility of a DVD release?

Interesting to read about Odile's RED tutu in an earlier version of this production. When a full-legth 'Swan Lake' was first performed in England she wore a gold tutu!

I sympathize with parents whose DDs kill pointe shoes in no time or lose the damn things. The expense of replacing them must be horrendous - when I first began to take a serious interest in ballet I simply couldn't believe how much they cost!

I'm actually sorry that I'll be on holiday when the Trocks come to my neck of the woods...

I would have liked to have asked him if the triangles created by the lighting, and the triangular Party salute, were inspired by the fact that in the novel the Ministries of Love, Truth and Plenty are described as huge pyramids towering over London. The question about children was a bit odd as the only children in the book are the two awful Parsons kids and - in flashback - Winston's younger self and his sister. The retro feel of the ballet was inevitable given that in the world of 1984 society hasn't progressed beyond the austere post-war years of the late 1940s. I was relieved that Watkins hadn't updated the technology and clothing.

Funny you should say that... Earlier today I saw an ad for a local Pilates class and emailed for more details. You owe me £10!

I saw today's matinee and was very impressed - a doubleplusgood adaptation of what must be one of the novels least likely to be turned into a ballet. It managed to distill the essence of the book, although a couple sitting in front of me who hadn't read either the novel or the programme were baffled by the Two Minutes Hate! I think more could have been made of the endless war with Eastasia/Eurasia - the Hate Week scene in which the Party orator switches between one enemy and another, represented by a change of colour on the video screen, didn't really work for me. However, I loved the ending in which Winston was literally 'erased' from the stage and from history. And is it just me or did anyone else think that Goldstein's face bore more than a passing resemblence to the 'V for Vendetta' mask?!

Having looked at a few EYB vids on YouTube I have no hesitation in saying that I'd certainly go to see them. The problem is that there are no performances within easy travelling distance.

I've been thinking about taking an adult beginners' ballet class for a couple of years now. Well, I've finally taken the plunge - last night, at the age of 55, I had my first lesson and loved it! For the benefit of anyone worrying that they're too old or too plump, I can assure you that it just doesn't matter. You won't be expected to do anything beyond your physical capabilities and you won't be learning alongside super-fit young sylphs with perfect turnout. See what's available locally and don't hesitate to sign up!

Lots of production photos here: http://www.danceeurope.net/gallery/1984-northern-ballet

I'm really looking forward to seeing this next Saturday afternoon...although I'll probably be a bit sore after my first 'ballet for adult beginners' lesson the previous evening!

I was introduced to ballet almost by chance in the early 80s. As a regular visitor to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-Upon-Avon I noticed that one of the visiting companies in the winter season was London Festival Ballet with "Cinderella", so I decided to give it a go and have been hooked ever since. There is indeed no substitute for a live performance, but thank goodness for DVDS! There's no way I could afford to see foreign companies on their home turf - even theatre-related visits to London and Birmingham are now a rare pleasure - but thanks to marvels of modern technology I can spend hours wallowing in the glories of the Bolshoi, Paris Opera Ballet etc...