Ballet Cymru - A Midsummer Night's Dream - Spring/Summer 2017

[Jan McNulty]

Yesterday I had the pleasure of discovering a venue new to me (the Waterside Arts Centre in Sale) when I set off to see Ballet Cymru's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

 

Ballet Cymru is a company of 11 dancers led by AD Darius James, who also creates most of the choreography.  It is about 4 years since I last had an opportunity to see the Company.

 

This company has never ceased to amaze me at how it can produce such large-scale productions with so few dancers and I've got to say that they never disappoint.  This production has all the elements of the four lovers, Oberton,Titania, Puck, Bottom and the Rude Mechanicals.  If you are at all familiar with the play it is very easy to follow.  If you are not familiar with the play there is a very good synopsis in the programme.

 

Ballet Cymru is the first company I think I saw that made use of projections rather than built sets.  It is a very effective mechanism for setting the scene and, of course, give plenty of room for dancing on the unencumbered stage.  The score was all Mendelssohn, rearranged from what I am familiar with to fit the action.  I must say that the sound system was excellent.  I really liked the costumes especially the unitards painted with flowers and leaves.

 

The Rude Mechanicals were rather more mime than dance but were absolutely hilarious, causing much laughter in the audience.  There's some very attractive choreography, particularly the duet for Oberon and Titania and I found the ending when all the fairies are gathering today both moving and uplifting.

 

Andreamaria Battaggia, who danced Oberon, has a tremendous stage presence and was very regal as the King of the fairies.  Gwenllian Davies was a delight as Titania and I thought Miguel Fernandes was very puckish as Puck!  The whole company looked to be on excellent form.

 

Ballet Cymru are definitely a company worth seeking out and I hope I don't have to wait another 4 years to see them.