nottsballetlover

No, I was definitely in the wrong on the post concerned and as I said, I'm really sorry for causing upset to someone else. Social media is so tricky especially at my age.

See this link: http://Www.gov.uk/honours

Thanks folks.

Apparently I have inadvertently upset someone on this forum with one of my posts. I sincerely apologise. Having said that, I was doing my usual gushing about a show and just wanting to relate to people around me, given I am usually seeing a show on my own. I just love ballet and just always wanted to share my views. This forum just got so difficult lately. I never wanted to upset anyone but seems I accidentally did. So sorry. I now won't post anymore on this forum.

Rip Ken. One of my earliest theatre memories. My grandparents treated us to a box for his show at Nottingham Theatre Royal. He had an extended tickling stick and aimed it at me up in the box; I was terrified!! I keep all my vinyl and still have a copy of his hit single Happiness

Fab post Alison. Would be a great topic for a new thread! I'd start it myself except just in interval of the very sold out full length Sleeping Beauty in Brum!! When BRB always totally struggle to half full the Hippo on their triple bills!!

Well done RHowarth! I'm not sure they'd swap my front row stalls for an identical one at half price! 😂But I'd only spend the difference in the bar 😏.... Joking aside, I really hope this ticket offer shifts more seats. Sales really low so far. This such a special triple bill, the dancers I spoke to after the Bradford shows were so thrilled to be performing these superb and important Macmillan pieces. They so need to be seen and appreciated by a wider audience.

I was at Friday evening's performance. Peter Wright's version of Sleeping Beauty is quite simply the most gorgeous version I've ever seen! It moves along at a sparkling pace; I've seen versions where it has seemed interminable 'filling' of the score & I even admit to falling asleep in one once! 😴. Not so with this version!! Every bit of the dancing just perfectly flowing with and matching the music, played superbly by RB Sinfonia conducted by Koen Kessels. Momoko Hirata was superb as Aurora; technically brilliant, musical and magical. She portrayed such excited innocence in Act 1 and pure joy with Mathias Dingman's noble and adoring Prince, also beautifully danced by him. Fabulous performances all round from the whole cast, including Nao Sakuma's terrifying Carabosse and Yvette Knight's serenely elegant Lilac. The costumes in this production are just gorgeous. Sitting in the front row I was marvelling all the way through at the detail. Anyway, roll on my second show of my trip to Brum, the Delia/Brandon matinee 👍😁. This really is an excellent production and perfectly showcases the huge range of talent in BRB.

Ouch.....I thought that might happen..Painful but I love NB so much happy to support them paying full price...😥😤

Ha! Very familiar feeling!! I was in exactly the same position - I had only the matinee for Saturday booked and return trains. I've now gone and booked the Friday evening as well plus overnight hotel and new train ticket......Looking forward to both shows and being rich in memories, never mind the pennies!

I saw 2 BRB Nuts this year, both superb. I know I don't have enough adjectives to do it justice!! Booking already open for next year. Not sure my bank account can take it as I also now have NB's Nutcracker to book for 😁

3 years since Trocs came to UK and the show venues in England seem sparse (happy though I am that there are shows in various Scotland, Ireland & Wales venues, as those often neglected). I've already booked for both shows in Nottingham plus one in Southampton. I'm going to have to seriously travel....!! They have not yet announced any other things they offered on the 2015 tour, such as open rehearsals and Dying Swan classes! Does anyone know if such things will be added??

Oh no! Devastated if true as my home city of Nottingham has been blessed to have BRB coming for last few years and their performances so appreciated.

Just seen both matinee and evening shows. Truly emotional. Really stunning performances by Northern Ballet. Quite sensational. Will write more tomorrow. On a buzz.....

Gasp and in my opinion, a magnificent show by BRB. Just exited from this, and in my view, it was a truly stunning and exceptional triple from BRB. Both Penguin and Elite Syncopations were stunning, in particular Brandon Lawrence and Celine Gittens leading together in Elite in a performance that was just show stopping! But I must focus my comments on which for me, was the utterly moving, beautiful and stunning Concerto. I'd never seen it before. How utterly sublime this was with BRB and the most gifted and incredible pianist Jonathan Higgins just lighting up the score. Celine Gittens & Brandon Lawrence danced the 2nd movement and had me in tears. For me, I thought this piece was genius. BRB will be dancing Concerto in London soon: I think you are lucky if you have a ticket!

Sorry the heat and emotion addled my brain. Oops! Ashley Shaw as Vicky Paige! !....But quite a funny typo.....Apologies!!

Just seen the penultimate performance of Red Shoes in Brum before they take it to USA. Incredibly emotional performance from the whole cast given it was the farewell performance by Chris Trenfield, who is leaving the company. He was Crastor, Ashley Page as Vicky, Sam Archer as Lermantov and Liam Mower as Ivan. Huge standing ovation and cheers for Chris at curtain call. Including from Sir Matthew Bourne who was in the audience and was quickly on his feet to applaud the dancers. I got the chance to speak to some of the dancers and Sir Matthew after the show: their sheer enthusiasm and dedication is shining. They have done over 300 performances of Red Shoes yet they are still so excited by it and every performance I've seen is like it was opening night, fresh and energetic. I know Bourne is not 'ballet' strictly speaking and not everyone likes it, but imho he has done a phenomenal job bringing new and diverse audiences to dance. So I'm off now to the evening show to conclude the season..! ?

Gotta quote you Janet! I second your comments! Today I was at Red Shoes Lowry matinee, as you reviewed above, it was Cordelia Braithwaite as Vicky and Dominic North as Crastor. Again, both utterly superb! It was a total standing ovation and well deserved by all!! But I must talk about Chris Trenfield as Lermontov. It's been announced by New Adventures that Chris Trenfield is leaving the company after 8 years. His last performance with the company will be Red Shoes in Birmingham next Saturday matinee (22 July). Thank heavens I booked a ticket for this ages ago! I've long admired Chris Trenfield's superb dancing & acting, gonna miss him massively. I so wish him well in the future. Anyway, today's performance at The Lowry was poignant for me. This is where I first saw The Red Shoes just 2 weeks after the premiere, way back last autumn. Seeing it again today (with about erm oops about 10 other performances in between, heaven help my bank account.....!) It's become such an intensely well developed show imo. For me, it's just amazing. All the dancers have developed their characters brilliantly! Cordelia Braithwaite just was so powerfully emotional as Vicky, I was in tears. So intenseĺy dramatic in the role of Vicky. As for Dominic North, as Crastor. The pdd with Vicky was incredible and tear jearking. As Janet said, Dominic walks on stage, he breathes and he is wonderful! He is truly a very special dancer and performer. I'm booked to see the last 2 uk performances of The Red Shoes in Brum next week. I know it will be emotional. For me, multiple viewings of The Red Shoes has paid off. I've loved it all....

Northern Ballet today released a press release today announcing they are doing two 'surprise' performances of Casanova at Manchester Palace Theatre on 4 and 5 August. Ticket are limited, as not all seats in the house will be on sale due to the production being filmed for broadcast!! Details of tickets on their website. Happy news!!!

Couldn't agree more!

I thought Tyrone Singleton & Celine Gittens were utterly fantastic last night as Franz & Swanilda. Technically brilliant and also superbly acted all the way through! I just love this Peter Wright version of Coppelia and glad I saw 3 different casts. It keeps up momentum all the way through with some showstopping and breathtaking pieces! I love the staging and think the dolls in Act 2 are amazing- no idea how the dancers stay that still for so long! The mime is so clear, anyone can follow the story. In last night's performance, as well as the leads, Michael O'Hare was a superb Dr Coppelius; Miki Mizutami a sparkling Dawn; and I loved the beautiful lyrical Prayer solo by Yijing Zhang. As for Call to Arms led by William Bracewell, I don't have sufficient adjectives!!! I just hope he achieves his full potential with the Royal Ballet that he so deserves. Having seen his debut as Romeo, I can easily see him in Manon and Onegin and more.....He's up on the casting to do a couple of Nutcrackers this year. Glad I made it to Bristol. Well worth the journey from Nottingham and overnight stay. Hope BRB are going again next year. Btw, audiences there for the BRB week were 60% of the house, according to the orchestra leader Robert Gibbs, who was chatting to a couple sitting next to me in one of the intervals.

Utterly shocking prices for drinks etc. £9 for a glass of wine? I just had their free water.....?

Will Bracewell in his last performance with BRB before joining RB. He was utterly stunning. I started crying after that bit and still too emotional to post...Obviously wish him well in new company but will miss him at BRB. Harder for me to get to London...

Just seen today's matinee of Coppelia and gosh was it superb. Simply dazzling and brought tears of happiness to my eyes! Combination of the uplifting Delibes score, played superbly by RB Sinfonia, and the brilliant dancing from the whole cast made this really delightful. Swanilda & Franz were danced by Maureen Lebowitz and Lachlan Monaghan and wow, they were both fantastic in these roles!! Call to Arms lead was Tzu-Chao Chou & during the whole of that section I almost stopped breathing: thought he mught go into orbit at one point!! Audience pretty good in terms of numbers, good many in the stalls on their feet applauding at the end, me included! Magical, dazzling end to the BRB season. Not quite the end though: one more performance tonight!! I'm downing coffee in my hotel room ahead of that!!

Agreed Janet: just such a joyous ballet isn't it? And BRB just make it an utter delight! I'm off to Bristol Saturday for both matinee and evening show. Can't wait!!