Jan McNulty Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 SCOTTISH BALLET’S NEW VERSION OF CINDERELLA WILL RECEIVE ITS EUROPEAN PREMIERE IN DECEMBER On December 5 at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Scottish Ballet gives the European premiere of Christopher Hampson’s production of Cinderella. Hampson, Chief Executive/Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet, originally created this version for the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2007. Set to Prokofiev’s iconic score, performed live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, this rendition of a timeless rags-to-riches story features luxurious costumes and extravagant sets by designer Tracy Grant Lord who also collaborated with Hampson on his production of Romeo and Juliet. The classic story returns in an imaginative re-telling. Like Prokofiev’s score the story takes us from darkness to light and focuses on Cinderella’s journey through her grief at the loss of her mother. A young Cinderella plants a rose at her mother’s graveside and from this the magic grows and her journey towards happiness begins. Cinderella’s future seems bleak after her father remarries; her wicked stepmother is intent on favouring Cinderella's two nasty step-sisters over the kind and beautiful Cinderella. The course of true love never does run smooth, but just like the rose Cinderella planted at her mother’s graveside, romance blossoms when she finally meets her prince. Scottish Ballet Chief Executive/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson: “This production of Cinderella is born from the heart of the Prokofiev score. Beginning in the darkest place possible the story journeys through misfortune, magic, mishaps and finally, a ‘happy ever after’. I’m thrilled to be working with the dancers, musicians and the support staff of Scottish Ballet to look afresh at a production which will light up the winter months ahead.” Cinderella will premiere at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh before touring to Theatre Royal, Glasgow, His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen and Eden Court, Inverness in January 2016. Scottish Ballet will also present a specially adapted hour long version, titled Wee Cinderella, aimed at small children and families. Wee Cinderella will be performed in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness in December 2015 and January 2016. As part of our commitment to making ballet accessible to all, Scottish Ballet will perform a ‘relaxed performance’ of Cinderella for people with additional needs at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh on 18 December. Trained staff are on hand to help with access needs, the performance will last an hour, and we’ve significantly subsidised the ticket prices with a free ticket for an accompanying carer. Experience Cinderella’s journey to the ball with online events Thursday 12 November: Experience ‘A Day in the Life’ of Scottish Ballet soloist, Bethany Kingsley-Garner as she takes over our social media to reveal how she transforms into the role of Cinderella. Thursday 19 November: Scottish Ballet: Uncut – The next in our series of exclusive behind the scenes rehearsals from Scottish Ballet studios. Christopher Hampson leads a rehearsal with the principal characters building a scene, speaking with the dancers about their characters and showing some of the costumes from the production. NOTES FOR EDITORS Christopher Hampson Christopher Hampson joined Scottish Ballet as Artistic Director in August 2012 and was appointed Artistic Director / Chief Executive of Scottish Ballet in June 2015. Christopher trained at the Royal Ballet Schools. His choreographic work began there and continued at English National Ballet (ENB), where he danced until 1999 and for whom he subsequently created numerous award-winning works, including Double Concerto, Perpetuum Mobile, Country Garden, Concerto Grosso and The Nutcracker. Christopher’s Romeo and Juliet, created for the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB), was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award (Best New Production 2005) and his production of Giselle for the National Theatre in Prague has been performed every year since its premiere in 2004. Christopher created Sinfonietta Giocosa for the Atlanta Ballet (USA) in 2006 and after a New York tour it received its UK premiere with ENB in 2007. He created Cinderella for RNZB in 2007, which was subsequently hailed as Best New Production by the New Zealand Herald and televised by TVNZ in 2009. His work has toured Australia, China, the USA and throughout Europe. Other commissions include, Dear Norman (Royal Ballet, 2009); Sextet (Ballet Black/ROH2, 2010); Silhouette (RNZB, 2010), Rite of Spring (Atlanta Ballet, 2011), Storyville (Ballet Black/ROH2, 2012) nominated for a National Dance Award 2012, and Hansel and Gretel (Scottish Ballet 2013). Christopher is co-founder of the International Ballet Masterclasses in Prague and has been a guest teacher for English National Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and the Genée International Ballet Competition. Christopher’s work now forms part of the Solo Seal Award for the Royal Academy of Dance. Christopher most recently gave a talk on ‘Creative Thinking’ for TEDx Glasgow and is developping and leading the inaugural Young Rural Retreat for Aspiring Leaders, in association with Dance East in summer 2016. CINDERELLA LISTINGS Festival Theatre, EdinburghSat 5 – Thu 31 Dec 2015Box Office: 0131 529 6000edtheatres.com Theatre Royal, GlasgowTue 12 – Sat 16 Jan 2016Box Office: 0844 871 7647 Atgtickets.com/glasgowHis Majesty’s Theatre, AberdeenWed 20 – Sat 23 Jan 2016Box Office: 01224 641122 Aberdeenperformingarts.comEden Court, InvernessWed 27 – Sat 30 Jan 2016Box Office: 01463 234 234 Eden-court.co.uk WEE CINDERELLA LISTINGS Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Tue 22 Dec 2015 - 3pm Box Office: 0131 529 6000 edtheatres.com Theatre Royal, Glasgow Fri 15 Jan 2016 - 3pm Box Office: 0844 871 7647 Atgtickets.com/Glasgow His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen Fri 22 January 2016 - 3pm Box Office: 01224 641122 Aberdeenperformingarts.com Eden Court, Inverness Fri 29 January 2016 - 3pm Box Office: 01463 234234 Eden-court.co.uk CINDERELLA RELAXED PERFORMANCE LISTING Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Fri 18 Dec 2015 - 3pm Box Office: 0131 529 6000 CINDERELLA GET CLOSER LISTINGS PRE-SHOW TALKS FREE | 6:30-7pm | Call box office or follow the links below to book online EDINBURGH Festival Theatre Thu 10 Dec 2015 (Focus on dance) Fri 11 Dec 2015 (Focus on music) Thu 17 Dec (Focus on dance) Box Office: 0131 529 6000 GLASGOW Theatre Royal Thu 14 Jan 2016 (Focus on dance) Fri 15 Jan 2016 (Focus on music) Box Office: 0844 871 7647 ABERDEEN His Majesty's Theatre Thu 21 Jan 2016 (Focus on dance) Fri 22 Jan 2016 (Focus on music) Box Office: 01224 641 122 INVERNESS Eden Court Thu 28 Jan 2016 (Focus on dance) Fri 29 Jan 2016 (Focus on music) Box Office: 01463 234 234 FAMILY INSIGHTS £5.50/£3.50 conc | 11am - 12.30pm | Book through your preferred theatre EDINBURGH Festival Theatre Sat 12 December 2015 Sat 19 December 2015 Wed 23 December 2015 GLASGOW Theatre Royal Sat 16 January 2016 ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre Sat 23 January 2016 INVERNESS Sat 30 January 2016 BALLET CAFÉ EDINBURGH Festival Theatre Tue 15 December 2015 0131 529 6000 GLASGOW Tramway* Wed 13 January 2016 0844 871 7647 ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre Wed 20 January 2016 01224 541122 INVERNESS Eden Court Wed 27 January 2016 01463 234234 ENHANCED HEARING, AUDIO DESCRIPTION AND TOUCH TOUR EDINBURGH Festival Theatre Sat 19 December 2015 GLASGOW Theatre Royal Sat 16 January 2016 ABERDEEN His Majesty’s Theatre Sat 23 January 2016 INVERNESS Eden Court Sat 30 January 2016
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