Jan McNulty Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Join the revolution with the World Première of Northern Ballet’s 1984 As one man risks everything to fall in love, join Northern Ballet for the World Première of Jonathan Watkins’ 1984. Recently awarded Best Company at the European Taglioni Ballet Awards, Northern Ballet is bringing this cult-classic to life with the World Première at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds from 5 – 12 September 2015. This thought-provoking tale of love and betrayal will also tour nationally in autumn 2015 and spring 2016. Choreographed by Jonathan Watkins, whose recent credits include Kes for Sheffield Crucible Theatre, Northern Ballet’s1984 is the first full-length ballet adaptation of George Orwell’s renowned novel. The production is set to an original score by Tony nominated Composer and Arranger Alex Baranowski, who recently worked with Mercury Prize winning band The xx. The creative team also includes Set and Costume Designer Simon Daw, whose work includes productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Opera House and Rambert Dance Company; Dramaturg Ruth Little, previously Literary Manager of The Royal Court Theatre; and Lighting Designer Chris Davey, well known for his work in dance and theatre including collaborations with Matthew Bourne. In the production, Ministry of Truth worker Winston Smith lives in a world of absolute conformity, his every action scrutinised by Big Brother. Whilst outwardly conforming to Party doctrine, he is secretly disillusioned, illegally documenting his thoughts in a diary. When one day he receives a love note from Julia, a colleague he suspected on spying on him for the Thought Police, the pair instead begin an illicit affair leading a dangerous double life putting physical desire above Party discipline. As their romance develops and they prepare for an act of political rebellion, Winston and Julia discover that Big Brother is always watching and no one can be trusted; least of all themselves. Jonathan Watkins said: ‘George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four has been a constant inspiration to me since I first read it at 15. It is a powerful and thought-provoking allegory that now, more than ever, has resonance with the times in which we are living. I am excited to be working with Northern Ballet and a wonderful creative team to realise this new full-length ballet for the audiences of today and I look forward to exploring through dance, music and film, a new way of seeing this modern classic.’ Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Nixon OBE, said: ‘Jonathan is an exciting choreographic talent and I am delighted that he accepted my invitation to create 1984 with us. This production promises to challenge the idea of what stories can be told through dance and the dramatic talent of our dancers will draw the audience into the very core of this literary masterpiece.’ Tickets for the World Première of Northern Ballet’s 1984 are on sale now and can be booked online at wyp.org.uk or by calling the box office on 0113 213 7700. -ENDS- Notes to EditorsFor more details of Northern Ballet's tour, on sale dates and booking information, please visit northernballet.com/whatson. 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 47 dancers tours a combination of full-length new work and established repertoire to cities throughout the UK. Northern Ballet introduced a new strand of touring in 2015, widening the Company’s already extensive reach to include nine new venues. Northern Ballet tours widely with its ballets for children, the first three of which were adapted for TV by CBeebies, and also performs a mixed programme showcasing the versatility of its dancers. Visit northernballet.com for more information on the Company and tour. Production images and information are available via the online media centre. Production CreditsChoreography Jonathan WatkinsMusic Alex BaranowskiSet & Costume Design Simon DawLighting Design Chris DaveyVideo Design Andrzej GouldingDramaturg Ruth Little 1984 – Tour DatesLeeds, West Yorkshire Playhouse (World Première) 5 – 12 Sep 2015 Box Office 0113 213 7700 wyp.org.uk Nottingham, Theatre Royal29 Sep – 3 Oct 2015 Box Office 0115 989 5555trch.co.uk Manchester, Palace Theatre14 – 17 Oct 2015 Box Office 0844 871 3019atgtickets.com/palacetheatre Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre20 – 24 Oct 2015 Box Office 0114 249 6000sheffieldtheatres.co.uk Southampton, Mayflower Theatre4 – 7 May 2016Box Office 02380 711 811mayflower.org.uk London, Sadler’s Wells24 – 28 May 2016Box Office 0844 412 4300sadlerswells.com Touring nationally in autumn 2015 and spring 2016 with more dates and venues to be announced. Seenorthernballet.com/whatson for updates. Calls to 0844 numbers cost up to 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted July 22, 2015 Author Share Posted July 22, 2015 Northern Ballet has just issued a trailer on YouTube for 1984. As with many of the great story ballets, 1984 has a strong story line of hate, betrayal and love so ... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted July 30, 2015 Author Share Posted July 30, 2015 If you are (or can be) in Leeds on 19th August, Northern Ballet are hosting a 1984 "Try before you buy" session. Details here: http://northernballet.com/?q=1984/1984-try-before-you-buy-0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 Some rehearsal photographs have been released: http://northernballet.com/?q=1984/rehearsal-photos The "Try before you buy"/Friends Event on 19th August is also being live-streamed: http://northernballet.com/?q=1984/live-streaming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 16, 2015 Author Share Posted August 16, 2015 A nice preview feature: http://leeds-list.com/culture/a-side-of-northern-ballet-you-rarely-ever-see/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mallinson Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Northern Ballet is live streaming a rehearsal of 1984 tomorrow, Wednesday 19th, from 6 to 7.30pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mallinson Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Now seems to be 6.15 to 7.30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 Northern Ballet have released a rehearsal snippet: http://northernballet.com/1984/video/1984-in-rehearsal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 What would you put in Room 101? Some ideas from Northern Ballet: http://northernballet.com/1984/video/room-101 Synopsis for 1984: http://northernballet.com/1984/scenario Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share Posted September 4, 2015 The casting for the first 4 performances is now on Northern Ballet's website: http://northernballet.com/1984/casts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Shortcake Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 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! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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