bridiem Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Francesca Hayward is to take the lead role in the new film Cats - see http://www.roh.org.uk/news/royal-ballet-principal-francesca-hayward-leads-the-cast-of-cats?utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter She'll be replaced in The Unknown Soldier by Yasmine Naghdi and will be back with the company in the spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Hats off to Kevin O'Hare for letting his Principals take these kinds of opportunities. A great pity for us that Hayward will not dance Two Pigeons and other new roles now. But what an exciting venture for her! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPD444 Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Good luck to Frankie. Hope she is back for R&J. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Yes, good luck to her. And if she can also get back a bit early to do The Two Pigeons that would be great too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Does this mean Yasmine Naghdi is to dance in all five performances of "Unknown Soldier", with Ball AND with Bracewell? I assume she's also dancing the "Symphony in C" principal role (she danced it at the May 2018 Gala) as well as" Infra" (which she danced in the previous run)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 'Come back soon'........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 I am a bit surprised and puzzled why Miss Hayward has accepted to go down the musical theatre route and I hope this won't affect her classical dancing. Of course an offer to perform in Cats must have been too tempting to turn down and it is generous of Kevin O'Hare to allow her to be away from the RB and to explore a different angle of the performing arts. Wishing her good luck with this new direction. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 I think this is a fabulous opportunity, it is a lovely role which requires excellent classical technique. Not only will it raise Francesca Hayward's personal profile, but no doubt it will also generate publicity for the Royal Ballet! 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colman Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 12 minutes ago, Xandra Newman said: I am a bit surprised and puzzled why Miss Hayward has accepted to go down the musical theatre route and I hope this won't affect her classical dancing. Probably more money than she'd see in a couple of years. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saodan Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 (edited) Best of luck to her, although it is a shame that this has come, presumably, at such short notice that Hayward has been forced with withdraw from the premier of a new work created on her only a few weeks before opening night. I'm not sure if this has been noted previously, but Wayne McGregor is down to choreograph the film. Edited November 2, 2018 by Saodan 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coated Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 filming over summer would have been nice... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 6 minutes ago, Saodan said: Best of luck to her, although it is a shame that this has come, presumably, at such short notice that Hayward has been forced with withdraw from the premier of a new work created on her only a few weeks before opening night. I'm not sure if this has been noted previously, but Wayne McGregor is down to choreograph the film. I didn’t know they were re-choreographing the film. Not really sure how I feel about Wayne McGregor doing it 😐 - I wonder why they aren’t just using Gillian Lynne’s choreo? 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 I didn't know there was such a thing as a "lead role" in Cats? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Ahhh - I had forgotten it was not going to be the original choreography! Not a big fan of Wayne McGregor. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coated Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 (edited) Judy Dench, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift etc might argue on what the lead role is https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5697572/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm seems to be one of these 'a little bit of everything and some cream on top' musical productions (Please don't make either Dench or McKellen twist their legs around their ears, Mr McGregor, they count as national monuments and should not be endangered for the sake of a musical) Edited November 2, 2018 by Coated 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliceinwoolfland Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Very exciting for her, but gutted that she won't be dancing for a while. She'll be back soon enough though:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 25 minutes ago, Saodan said: Best of luck to her, although it is a shame that this has come, presumably, at such short notice that Hayward has been forced with withdraw from the premier of a new work created on her only a few weeks before opening night. I'm not sure if this has been noted previously, but Wayne McGregor is down to choreograph the film. I am not sure this has come at such short notice. There is a contract to be negotiated for Cats as well as her RB contract to be re-negotiated. She was due to dance in NY - Balanchine Gala - with Sambe and that was cancelled too. We already got "hints" of her pending absence when the Autumn/Winter casting came out. Why they still went ahead advertising her in "Unknown Soldier" knowing Yasmine Naghdi would have to take over all those shows is a mystery. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted November 2, 2018 Author Share Posted November 2, 2018 According to Broadway World she's playing Victoria - the white cat. Can't remember much about the musical or how lead a role that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 https://www.roh.org.uk/mixed-programmes/the-unknown-soldier-infra-symphony-in-c The ROH website now shows Yasmine Naghdi dancing all 6 Unknown Soldier shows: 3 with Ball and 3 with Bracewell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springbourne3 Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Finola Hughes was the original Victoria (White Cat) in 1981 - she trained at Arts Ed in predominantly musical theatre so it will be interesting to see how Miss Hayward will interpret the role! I think that it can only be a positive opportunity for her (and other members of the RB) to extend themselves as a dance artistes - good on K O’Hare! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanartus Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 It’s a great opportunity for her (Hayward) but I don’t want her to disappear and do a Leslie Caron! ...mind you, Gigi the Ballet! Now there’s a thought - speed dial Wheeldon? 😉 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 6 minutes ago, Vanartus said: It’s a great opportunity for her (Hayward) but I don’t want her to disappear and do a Leslie Caron! ...mind you, Gigi the Ballet! Now there’s a thought - speed dial Wheeldon? 😉 I guess the amount of money paid must have certainly counted in her accepting to appear in this musical. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmeralda Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 (edited) 47 minutes ago, alison said: I didn't know there was such a thing as a "lead role" in Cats? Agree...if there is A lead role I would have said it is Munkustrap because he functions as story teller through the musical and is involved in a lot of songs. But I guess with Victoria it is a perfect choice because she is in some productions the leading female dancing cat with a dance solo ect...And not so much singing (though I have no idea how good Francesca Hayward is at singing so...). To be honest I thought the whole time with Wayne McGregor (choreographing) that maybe someone from the RB would be involved with it. Edit: But I wouldn´t have thought about a principal...I think there are some in the company who were involved with musical theatre before... Edited November 2, 2018 by Esmeralda Addition. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Xandra Newman said: I guess the amount of money paid must have certainly counted in her accepting to appear in this musical. Why? I'm sure there are various other considerations. Edited November 2, 2018 by alison Added quote now that there is a post in the way 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Wayne McGregor choreographing what precisely? The White Cat solo? or the whole musical? Thus Wayne McGregor picked "his" Cat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdove Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Very best of luck to Francesca. Excited for her 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanartus Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Money, plus so many opportunities- international profile, a new medium, Hollywood....it’s a fabulous chance! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanartus Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 ...just don’t want to lose her yet! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Oh dear wish I'd known about this before Wednesday booking!! As I only booked two pigeons twice especially to see her in the role!! Id already booked Unknown Soldier programme so very happy to see Naghdi in this role as it s new anyway. Of course am very happy for Francesca Hayward and of course Ball is off doing Matthew Bournes Swan Lake etc so these opportunities are terrific ....but how long ago was it certain she would be away doing this? Just a bit more notice would have been great especially when public booking was so close etc. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmeralda Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 12 minutes ago, Xandra Newman said: Wayne McGregor choreographing what precisely? The White Cat solo? or the whole musical? Thus Wayne McGregor picked "his" Cat He is re -choreographing the whole musical, at least I think so. I didn´t see any other choreographers listed. Hayward is a natural choice for him but I wouldn´t have thought necessarily that Kevin would give a principal "away"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 23 minutes ago, Vanartus said: Money, plus so many opportunities- international profile, a new medium, Hollywood....it’s a fabulous chance! Look at Polunin how he was attracted to international fame and fortune. Of course I don't mean to compare Hayward with him... but money and fame talk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenore Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 This does make sense in a way... I was thinking the other day just how little she seems to have been cast (i.e. seemingly nothing for La Bayadere). Huge congratulations to Francesca of course, though I’m sure like most on here I’ll be eagerly awaiting her return 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xandra Newman Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 I have a strange feeling they seemingly have kept this out of public knowledge as to not influence the ticket sale! They must have known this months ago. Such a decision is not taken from one day to the other. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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