Press Release: Northern Ballet announces major national tour of children’s ballet

[Jan McNulty]

For immediate release
18 October 2017

Northern Ballet announces major national tour of children’s ballet

Ballet for children Ugly Duckling will tour nationally in spring 2018

May – June 2018

northernballet.com/duckling

 

Northern Ballet’s original pioneering ballet for children, Ugly Duckling, is to return to stages across the country with an extensive tour throughout spring 2018. The production will run from May to June 2018, visiting more than 20 theatres.

 

Based on the famous Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, Ugly Duckling tells the story of a lonely duckling, ignored by those around her who think she is too ugly to fit in. This child friendly 40 minute ballet follows her journey as she comes to learn that she was beautiful all along. It has been created especially for children and their families to experience live dance, music and theatre together. 

 

Ugly Duckling was the first of the Company’s award-winning series of children’s ballets, which includes the hugely successful Three Little Pigs, Elves & the Shoemaker, Tortoise & the Hare and Goldilocks & the Three Bears, all of which have been adapted for TV by CBeebies. Ugly Duckling is choreographed by Northern Ballet leading soloist Dreda Blow and former Northern Ballet dancer Sebastian Loe. It features set designs by Dave Gillan, lighting by Alastair West, costumes by Julie Anderson and music arranged by John Longstaff, which will be performed live at every venue by members of Northern Ballet Sinfonia.

 

Daniel de Andrade, Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director of Short Ballets for Small People, said: 

‘We are thrilled to be bringing Ugly Duckling back to audiences across the country next spring. Our children’s ballets are created with the needs of our audience in mind and as such are short, captivating and uplifting, creating a truly magical live dance experience for the whole family. As the very first of our short ballet collection, we are excited Ugly Duckling is now returning to enchant even more children and their families.’

 

For venues, updates to on sale dates and details on how to book, please visit northernballet.com/duckling

-ENDS-

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

Northern Ballet is one of the UK’s leading ballet companies and the widest touring ballet company in the UK. Bold and innovative in its approach, Northern Ballet is prolific at creating new full-length work with a unique blend of strong classical technique and world-class storytelling. Northern Ballet’s repertoire embraces popular culture and takes inspiration from literature, legend, opera and the classics, pushing the boundaries of what stories can be told through dance.

 

A champion for the cultural exports of the North, Leeds-based Northern Ballet is dedicated to bringing world-class story ballets to as many people and places as possible, under the leadership of Artistic Director David Nixon OBE. Northern Ballet’s Company of 47 dancers performs a combination of its full-length ballets and specially created ballets for children at almost 50 venues annually. Providing the highest standard of live theatre experience, every Northern Ballet performance is accompanied by live music played by Northern Ballet Sinfonia.

 

For more details of Northern Ballet's tour, on sale dates and booking information, please visit northernballet.com/whatson

 

Ugly Duckling 2018 Tour Listings

 

Middlesbrough Theatre Wed 9 May 2018 11.30am, 1.30pm & 5pm Box Office 01642 81 51 81 middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk	Durham Gala Theatre Thu 10 May 2018 2pm, 4pm* & 6pm Box Office 03000 266 600 galadurham.co.uk
Goole Junction Sat 12 May 2018 2pm, 4pm & 6pm Box Office 01405 763 652 junctiongoole.co.uk	Bridlington Spa Tue 15 May 2018 12pm, 2pm & 5pm* Box Office 01262 678 258 bridspa.com
Berwick-upon-Tweed The Maltings  Sat 19 May 2018 2pm, 4pm & 6pm Box Office 01289 330 999 maltingsberwick.co.uk	Reading The Hexagon Tue 22 May 2018 2pm & 4pm* Box Office 0118 960 6060 readingarts.com/thehexagon
Cheltenham Everyman Theatre Wed 23 May 2018 2pm & 4pm Box Office 01242 572 573 everymantheatre.org.uk	Peterborough Key Theatre Fri 25 May 2018 2pm, 4pm, & 6pm Box Office 01733 207 239 vivacity-peterborough.com
Buxton Opera House Sat 26 May 2018 2pm* & 4pm Box Office 01298 72190 buxtonoperahouse.org.uk	Huddersfield Lawrence Batley Theatre Tue 29 May 2018 2pm, 4pm & 6pm Box Office 01484 430 528 thelbt.org
Derby Theatre Thu 31 May 2018 12pm, 2pm* & 4pm Box Office 01332 59 39 39 derbytheatre.co.uk	Harrogate Theatre Fri 1 June 2018 2pm*, 4pm & 6pm Box Office 01423 502 116 harrogatetheatre.co.uk
Hull New Theatre Sat 2 June 2018 2pm & 4pm Box Office 01482 300 306 hulltheatres.co.uk	Mansfield Palace Theatre Tue 5 June 2018 12pm, 2pm & 4pm* Box Office 01623 633 133 mansfieldpalace.co.uk
Doncaster Cast Wed 6 June 2018 2pm & 4pm Box Office 01302 303 959 castindoncaster.com	Barnsley The Civic Fri 8 June 2018 12pm, 2pm & 5pm Box Office 01226 327 000 barnsleycivic.co.uk
Corby The Core Sat 9 June 2018 2pm, 4pm & 6pm Box Office 01536 470 470 thecorecorby.com	Weymouth Pavilion Wed 13 June 2018 2pm & 4pm Box Office 01305 783225 weymouthpavilion.com
Yeovil Octagon Theatre Fri 15 June 2018 2pm, 4pm & 6pm Box Office 01935 422 884 octagon-theatre.co.uk	Exeter Northcott Theatre Sat 16 June 2018 2pm, 4pm & 6pm Box Office 01392 72 63 63 exeternorthcott.co.uk
Barrow-in-Furness The Forum Tue 19 June 2018 12pm & 2pm* Box Office 01229 820 000 theforumbarrow.co.uk	Blackpool Grand Theatre Wed 20 June 2018 2pm & 4pm Box Office 01253 290 190 blackpoolgrand.co.uk
Lincoln Drill Hall Fri 22 June 2018 12pm, 2pm & 4pm Box Office 01522 873894 lincolndrillhall.com

 

*Relaxed Performances

 

Image: Northern Ballet dancers in Ugly Duckling. Photo Martin Bell.

[alison]

Possibly hanging on the coattails of NB rather, here, but does anyone know anything about this?

 

https://leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873600293

 

I'm guessing it's probably not a related production?

[Jan McNulty]

It doesn't look like it (although the picture looks a bit similar).  The list of previous productions does not match NB's children's ballets.

 

Could be good though!

 

NB are currently touring Puss in Boots.  I'm going to Huddersfield on Saturday to see it again.