Jan McNulty Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 PRESS RELEASE4 December 2020 Birmingham Royal Ballet to go ahead with live streaming adapted version of The Nutcracker at Birmingham Repertory Theatre Following news of Birmingham’s Tier 3 status last week, and ongoing uncertainty about what will be possible post 16 December, Birmingham Royal Ballet has taken the difficult decision to move their 2020 adapted version of The Nutcracker online. The magical Christmas production will be streamed live from The Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday 18 December at 7.30pm, giving audiences an experience as close to watching it live in the theatre as is possible. Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The REP will be available to watch as a livestream event at 7.30pm on Friday 18th December. It will then be available to view as a video-on-demand recording from Saturday 19th to Thursday 24th December. Video-on-demand sales close at midnight on 21st December, but can be viewed until midnight on Christmas Eve. Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta said ‘I guess you could say we’re trying to look on the bright side at the moment! By live streaming this new adapted version of our famous and much-loved production we can proceed with confidence and focus on making the event as special as possible for our wonderful audiences and now, wherever you are in the world, you can be part of it. I can’t deny it’s disappointing not to see everyone’s happy faces in the theatre, but we will plan to end the year on a Christmas high, finding ways of celebrating is important right now.’ Sean Foley, Artistic Director at The REP said: ‘We hope this newly announced Live Stream performance of The Nutcracker at The REP will bring a flurry of theatrical magic and seasonal warmth into families’ homes this Christmas. Teams at The REP and Birmingham Royal Ballet have been working tirelessly since new safety measures were announced to make this very special, one-off adaptation of the classic festive tale. We are tremendously excited to share it with thousands of people across the world at the same time - the first time ever a performance has been streamed 'Live from The Birmingham REP’. In light of the performances being cancelled the Company has again focused on finding solutions and decided to tackle uncertainties by enabling audiences to enjoy the world premiere of this new adaptation from home. After the cancellation of this year’s full production at the Royal Albert Hall, this will be the one chance to experience Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Christmas classic this year. The full-length Nutcracker will be shortened to an 80-minute magical experience that will retain all of the most enchanting moments and characters you would expect and hope for - Snowflakes, Drosselmeyer, Fritz and Clara’s Christmas Eve party, King Rat’s battle, the Kingdom of Sweets dances from around the world, the iconic Sugar Plum Fairy and, of course, The Nutcracker Prince - and features the cherished Tchaikovsky score performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy. Ticket holders for this pay per view production will also be able to enjoy some extra treats the Company have tied together with a seasonal red bow to make the experience as special as possible. People who have bought tickets for the original live performances The REP will be contacted by the box office. This year’s performance will ensure the safety of all performers, technical crew and staff. Two performances featuring two different casts will be captured at The REP. The second film will feature three third year students from The Royal Ballet School performing Trepak, the Russian dance, and students from Elmhurst Ballet School dancing Snowflakes will be available for audiences to watch online in early 2021. Birmingham Royal Ballet is committed to offering performance opportunities for students of the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School, especially at this time when such opportunities are so rare for students starting out in their careers. Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s social media pages will reflect a celebration of The Nutcracker throughout the run, including exclusive new dance footage, ballet lessons for the very young and behind-the-scenes insights and the premiere of a new animated film inspired by The Nutcracker created with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s second company, Freefall, whose exceptionally talented dancers have learning disabilities. _________________________________________________ Listings Information The Nutcracker at The REP 1st Cast: Clara: Karla Doorbar The Prince: César Morales The Sugar Plum Fairy: Momoko Hirata Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy Running Time: 90 minutes – Including a short interval and exciting behind-the-scenes access Fri 18 Dec - 7.30pm Live Stream Tickets: £15 per device Booking Information: brb.org.uk/nutcracker-online NOTES TO EDITORS: Birmingham Royal Ballet Based at Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Royal Ballet is the United Kingdom’s leading touring ballet company performing a range of traditional, classical and heritage ballets as well as ground-breaking new works with the aim of encouraging choreographers of the future. The Company’s Director since January 2020 is the internationally renowned Carlos Acosta. Birmingham Royal Ballet performs at Birmingham Hippodrome for approximately ten weeks of the year and the remainder of the year tours throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. On average, the Company performs 175 shows a year nationally and internationally. The Royal Ballet Sinfonia is Birmingham Royal Ballet’s permanent orchestra, it is also Britain's busiest ballet orchestra. The Sinfonia also plays frequently for The Royal Ballet and other leading ballet companies, including performances with: The Royal Ballet, Paris Opéra Ballet, New York City Ballet, Australian Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Kirov, Norwegian Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and La Scala Ballet. Birmingham Repertory Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre is the only producing theatre in the UK’s Second City. The oldest building-based theatre company in the UK, The REP has an unparalleled pioneering history and has been at the forefront of theatre in this country for over 100 years. It is a registered charity (number 223660). The REP’s mission is to create artistically ambitious popular theatre for, by and with the people of Birmingham and the wider world. The commissioning and production of new work lies at the core of The REP’s programme and over the last 15 years, the company has produced more than 130 new plays. As well as presenting over 60 productions on its three stages every year, the theatre tours its productions nationally and internationally. The REP’s acclaimed learning and outreach programme is one of the largest and most diverse of any arts organisation in the country. Every year we have over 70,000 contacts with young people and adults in the community on projects from drama or writing workshops to large-scale productions. The REP is also committed to nurturing new talent through its youth theatre groups, and it offers training for early career writers, directors, and artists through its ground-breaking REP Foundry theatre makers programme. Many of The REP’s productions go on to have lives beyond Birmingham. Recent tours and transfers include The Lovely Bones, Brief Encounter, Nativity! The Musical, What Shadows, LOVE, The Winslow Boy, The Government Inspector, Of Mice and Men, Anita and Me, Penguins and The King’s Speech. The theatre’s long-running production of The Snowman celebrated its 25th anniversary as well as its 22nd consecutive season at London's Peacock Theatre in 2019. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted December 4, 2020 Author Share Posted December 4, 2020 Gorgeous casting for the three lead roles. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 I really hope this will be well supported. BRB has gone to enormous lengths to adapt their gorgeous Nutcracker for live performances only to be thwarted at the final hurdle. How unlucky that both their chosen venues had to be cancelled. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanJL Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 This is great news 😊 I'm a big fan of the BRB production and very interested to see the adapted version. Will definitely be streaming this! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 I really like the idea that £15 is the minimum price but there is the option to pay £20 or £25 in order to support BRB/Birmingham Rep. further if one is able to. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 May go for this one though after last experience of live-streaming not that confident 🙄 At least can access until Christmas Eve so could be a very nice Christmas treat with a glass of Baileys thrown in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulcinella Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 1 hour ago, LinMM said: May go for this one though after last experience of live-streaming not that confident 🙄 At least can access until Christmas Eve so could be a very nice Christmas treat with a glass of Baileys thrown in. Be careful when you buy this as there are two options. "Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The REP will be available to watch as a livestream event at 7.30pm on Friday 18th December. It will then be available to view as a video-on-demand recording from Saturday 19th to Thursday 24th December. Video-on-demand sales close at midnight on 21st December, but can be viewed until midnight on Christmas Eve." It is not made clear in this statement that if you pay for the livestream you will only be able to watch that. If you want the video-on-demand it is a separate payment and this will be available from 19th Dec for 3 days from when you activate it. It won't be available over the entire 6 days. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 7 hours ago, Jan McNulty said: Two performances featuring two different casts will be captured at The REP. The second film will feature three third year students from The Royal Ballet School performing Trepak, the Russian dance, and students from Elmhurst Ballet School dancing Snowflakes will be available for audiences to watch online in early 2021. I'm a bit confused about this: there's a second cast, but we won't be able to see it apart from the Trepak and Snowflakes? Or maybe, if you take it literally, only the Snowflakes? Or is it just oddly phrased? I would assume the whole thing would be viewable in 2021, including students dancing the Trepak and Snowflakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted December 5, 2020 Author Share Posted December 5, 2020 8 hours ago, alison said: I'm a bit confused about this: there's a second cast, but we won't be able to see it apart from the Trepak and Snowflakes? Or maybe, if you take it literally, only the Snowflakes? Or is it just oddly phrased? I would assume the whole thing would be viewable in 2021, including students dancing the Trepak and Snowflakes. I have to admit to being confused too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted December 5, 2020 Author Share Posted December 5, 2020 The announcement on the company's website is slightly clearer. There are 2 viewing options - you can either watch the livestream on 18th December or the on-demand from 19th December. There are separate booking buttons for each option. Of course you could do both. It does not clear up the PR's statement about 2 casts and something being available online in 2021. https://www.brb.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-nutcracker-at-the-rep-online Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 I’d definitely go for the video option then in case live-streaming doesn’t come off. Still not sure if you only get it for three days from point of booking though 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted December 6, 2020 Author Share Posted December 6, 2020 10 hours ago, LinMM said: I’d definitely go for the video option then in case live-streaming doesn’t come off. Still not sure if you only get it for three days from point of booking though 🤔 It says from activation because you can actually book now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 On 05/12/2020 at 09:10, Jan McNulty said: It does not clear up the PR's statement about 2 casts and something being available online in 2021. I like the idea of BRB having something, perhaps another Nutcracker cast, up its sleeve for the New Year and am content to await the announcement and to pay to watch if I can. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 Looking again at the statement, with the live stream you get a few additional items. ”Ticket holders for this pay per view production will also be able to enjoy some extra treats the Company have tied together with a seasonal red bow to make the experience as special as possible.” I think I will go for the video option though if, as I take it to mean, you can watch it multiple times within the time period. Not sure what I think of the two purchase options. I assume the marketing department have done their homework and believe it will work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Just a reminder that there's half an hour to go before the livestream starts!! Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker at The REP will be streamed live from The Birmingham Repertory Theatre this evening, Friday 18th December, from 7.30pm via brb.org.uk. This magical Christmas production will then be available to view as a video-on-demand recording from Saturday 19th to Thursday 24th December. Video-on-demand sales close at midnight on 21st December, but can be viewed until midnight on Christmas Eve. The full-length Nutcracker is shortened to an 80-minute magical experience that will retain all of the most enchanting moments and characters you would expect and hope for - Snowflakes, Drosselmeyer, Fritz and Clara’s Christmas Eve party, King Rat’s battle, the Kingdom of Sweets dances from around the world, the iconic Sugar Plum Fairy and, of course, The Nutcracker Prince - and features the cherished Tchaikovsky score performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy. The production will feature Peter Wright’s award-winning choreography which was adapted by David Bintley for the acclaimed production at the Royal Albert Hall. This new iteration will receive new creative direction from Birmingham Royal Ballet Director, Carlos Acosta and The REP’s Artistic Director, Sean Foley. _________________________________________________ Listings Information Birmingham Royal Ballet's Nutcracker at The REP Clara: Karla Doorbar The Prince: César Morales The Sugar Plum Fairy: Momoko Hirata Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy Running Time: 90 minutes – Including a short interval and exciting behind-the-scenes access Fri 18 Dec - 7.30pm Live Stream Tickets: £15 per device Booking Information: brb.org.uk NOTES TO EDITORS: Birmingham Royal Ballet Based at Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Royal Ballet is the United Kingdom’s leading touring ballet company performing a range of traditional, classical and heritage ballets as well as ground-breaking new works with the aim of encouraging choreographers of the future. The Company’s Director since January 2020 is the internationally renowned Carlos Acosta. Birmingham Royal Ballet performs at Birmingham Hippodrome for approximately ten weeks of the year and the remainder of the year tours throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. On average, the Company performs 175 shows a year nationally and internationally. The Royal Ballet Sinfonia is Birmingham Royal Ballet’s permanent orchestra, it is also Britain's busiest ballet orchestra. The Sinfonia also plays frequently for The Royal Ballet and other leading ballet companies, including performances with: The Royal Ballet, Paris Opéra Ballet, New York City Ballet, Australian Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Kirov, Norwegian Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and La Scala Ballet. Birmingham Repertory Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre is the only producing theatre in the UK’s Second City. The oldest building-based theatre company in the UK, The REP has an unparalleled pioneering history and has been at the forefront of theatre in this country for over 100 years. It is a registered charity (number 223660). The REP’s mission is to create artistically ambitious popular theatre for, by and with the people of Birmingham and the wider world. The commissioning and production of new work lies at the core of The REP’s programme and over the last 15 years, the company has produced more than 130 new plays. As well as presenting over 60 productions on its three stages every year, the theatre tours its productions nationally and internationally. The REP’s acclaimed learning and outreach programme is one of the largest and most diverse of any arts organisation in the country. Every year we have over 70,000 contacts with young people and adults in the community on projects from drama or writing workshops to large-scale productions. The REP is also committed to nurturing new talent through its youth theatre groups, and it offers training for early career writers, directors, and artists through its ground-breaking REP Foundry theatre makers programme. Many of The REP’s productions go on to have lives beyond Birmingham. Recent tours and transfers include The Lovely Bones, Brief Encounter, Nativity! The Musical, What Shadows, LOVE, The Winslow Boy, The Government Inspector, Of Mice and Men, Anita and Me, Penguins and The King’s Speech. The theatre’s long-running production of The Snowman celebrated its 25th anniversary as well as its 22nd consecutive season at London's Peacock Theatre in 2019. Nutcracker%2C%20The%20REP.pdf 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northstar Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 (edited) I'm in. It is so wonderful that BRB are doing this. I've loved them for many years and miss seeing them perform live terribly. 10 minutes to go! 5 min to go! ... 1 min ! ... Working so far ... ooh there's a live chat option. Edited December 18, 2020 by northstar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 I nearly missed the start. Fortunately I rang a friend and refreshed my screen and got in half way through the overture. It was emotional! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 Oh well, that's me having to catch up on ... catchup, then. A shame so many people put things on on the same evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 I've added the stream to the Calendar now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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