Jude

Witney Cineworld was also at full capacity, and The Nutcracker was moved to a larger screen to accommodate the 200 to 300 people wishing for tickets. Excellent sound quality and some of the camera angles were different to usual and welcome. i loved seeing Leo Dixon and Sophie Allnatt, both full of wonder and excitement at what was happening …..and beautiful dancing too. There’ something about Anna Rose’s arms that spoil her performances for me but perhaps that’s seeing her in close-up rather than on a stage. Having seen BRB’s Nutcracker for the first time this year I’m enjoying thinking about what I like from each production. On balance I think I prefer the RB one because of the prologue and epilogue and the extra narrative this adds to the ballet and also the way Clara and Peter dance throughout Act 2. For BRB Clara’s arrival in Act 2 on a snow goose is pretty special though, and the snowflakes with the winds, so I might have to return to Birmingham next year to check it out. Has the old servant in Act 1 been retired? I missed him.

Thursday evenings’s performance was a delight. To my untutored eye the dancing was excellent with a wide variety of solos, duets and ensemble pieces, and 3 ballets that provided variety, points for discussion and showed how good BRB are. A very special evening sitting in the second row of the circle for just £37. A pity there’s no train service back to Oxford after 10pm; driving into Birmingham is not much fun! Enjoyed the BRB triple bill more than I’m expecting to enjoy next Saturday evening at the ROH.