Jan McNulty Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 SPRING 2022 HERALDS A UK TOUR OF CARLOS ACOSTA’S BRAND-NEW PRODUCTION OF DON QUIXOTE For spring 2022, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Director Carlos Acosta promises entertainment for all ages when he brings an explosion of Spanish sunshine, spectacular dance and vivacious comedy to stages across the country. In a new production created especially for Birmingham Royal Ballet and featuring all-new designs by Tim Hatley, Don Quixote introduces us to Cervantes’ famous knight himself, lovers Kitri and Basilio, and a host of supporting characters. As the Don sets out on a quest to track down his true love, with his loyal friend and servant Sancho Panza at his side, he finds himself embroiled in an unlikely adventure of love and dreams. The first UK performances of Acosta’s sparkling new 21st-century production of this 19th-century masterpiece, featuring music by one of the founding fathers of Russian Ballet music Ludwig Minkus, performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, take place in Southampton in February and the tour continues to Birmingham, Salford, Sunderland and Plymouth through to 19 March. Carlos Acosta's original production, his first full length ballet, was created for The Royal Ballet in 2013, and was last seen at the Royal Ballet in 2019. It has also been seen in cinemas all over the world. Carlos has been performing in Don Quixote since the age of 16 when he won the Prix de Lausanne so it’s very close to his heart but also a real crowd pleaser. As well as wanting to ensure this new version is suitable for touring, Acosta said: “For this new production, I wanted to give it a completely new take and a new look to the one that I gave to the Royal Ballet so that Birmingham has its own. It’s a new production with new concept and designs, re-orchestration, new elements of the choreography, new colours, a whole new palette. “This ballet is really popular with dancers,” he says. “It is a ballet for virtuosos. If you really have aspirations to become the best ballet dancer you can be, then you must have this ballet under your belt. Also it’s a production which gives opportunities to a large ballet company because there are a lot of roles for everyone in the company - for soloists, for corps members and principals so it’s a real showcase.” Listings DON QUIXOTE Music Ludwig Minkus Choreography Carlos Acosta after Marius Petipa Production Carlos Acosta Designs Tim Hatley Lighting Peter Mumford Staged by Christopher Saunders Southampton Mayflower Thursday 10 - Saturday 12 February brb.org.uk/quixote Birmingham Hippodrome Friday 18 - Saturday 26 February brb.org.uk/quixote Salford Lowry Wednesday 2 - Saturday 5 March brb.org.uk/quixote Sunderland Empire Thursday 10 - Saturday 12 March brb.org.uk/quixote Plymouth Theatre Royal Wednesday 16 - Saturday 19 March brb.org.uk/quixote 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 standardly 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 withParis 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 No Sadler's Wells. Oh well, I might try a trip over to Brum for it - if the ticket prices are a bit lower than they have been recently. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 I might try Birmingham as well as it’s on for just three days in Southampton!! I hope there’s at least one matinee in Birmingham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Just seen there are three matinees two on either Saturday and one on the Thursday which might be a better travelling day!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Perregrino Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 I find it interesting that it is not ‘premiering’ in Birmingham but instead in Southampton. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted November 18, 2021 Author Share Posted November 18, 2021 27 minutes ago, prs59 said: I find it interesting that it is not ‘premiering’ in Birmingham but instead in Southampton. The company has done a Southampton gig in January/February before the main Birmingham season for some years now. They used to do that at the Lowry previously. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Southampton does have the bigger theatre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 But it does annoy me that many productions there are only for three days!! It’s dodgy getting to Southampton for me anyway as it’s one of these Great Western trains often cancelled from Brighton to Bristol. There’s only two trains a day so can only get to a matinee in order to get back again! The good thing is although it takes about two hours it’s pretty much door to door as the theatre is only a few mins walk from the station in Southampton. I just wish they would have the shows for at least a week but obviously ballet doesn’t fill the theatre enough there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 If you shop at the bargain basement end like me, Southampton is cheaper than Birmingham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 True, but the trains ain't I gave up going there some years ago because the travel was too expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 Depends where your starting point is 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 True ... I was being London-centric 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 I’m so lucky that because I can stay in London I can do Birmingham in a day. I tend to want to go with the most RELIABLE route in the end and where there may be more trains. More likely to do Southampton in Spring and Summer! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 I *think* that in my neck of the woods at least (GWR land) they're beginning to get back to something like a normal schedule - certainly there finally some options appearing in the timetable for late trains at the weekend. I'm not counting any chickens, though! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 Lucky you We're still on 50%, and no trains at all on some routes still, which is why my journey home was such a horrendous experience last night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 Well Southampton for me - may even make a weekday matinee. Lin let me know if you are planning to attend any of the performances. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 6 minutes ago, alison said: Lucky you We're still on 50%, and no trains at all on some routes still, which is why my journey home was such a horrendous experience last night Sorry to hear that Alison- my line is back on normal timetable SWR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 As always, having some casting information would help. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 Except if you're needing to go for matinees, it's pretty much Hobson's choice, isn't it? (No pun intended) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 1 hour ago, capybara said: As always, having some casting information would help. That's hilarious!! Sorry Capybara, unless the BRB policy changes I wouldn't think casting will be posted until towards the end of January (if we are lucky). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 Yes Shade if I was doing Southampton would probably be the Saturday matinee ...though I haven’t looked to see if there is one yet! I just need to check the Southampton trains which pre pandemic used to leave around 9am. But there would only be that one train that would get me there!! Always a bit more dicey in the winter 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 I have tickets for Plymouth right at the end of the run. I guess the ‘bubbling’ will continue, so it may be possible to predict some of the partnerships, just not able to crystal ball gaze about for which performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted January 27, 2022 Author Share Posted January 27, 2022 The casting is out for Southampton: https://www.brb.org.uk/whats-on/event/don-quixote-2022 I assume at least a couple more casts will be introduced in Birmingham with a comparatively long tour in prospect. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 (edited) Were I planning to go to see this production, which I am not, I have to say that some of the casting would not inspire me that much. I am not a fan of Hirata, not least as I would have been hoping for Celine Gittens and Tyrone Singleton as the first cast. Having said that, Brandon Lawrence would be a highly acceptable substitute. Edited January 27, 2022 by Two Pigeons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryrosesatonapin Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 15 minutes ago, Two Pigeons said: Were I planning to go to see this production, which I am not, I have to say that some of the casting would not inspire me that much. I am not a fan of Hirata, not least as I would have been hoping for Celine Gittens and Tyrone Singleton as the first cast. Having said that, Brandon Lawrence would be a highly acceptable substitute. Momoko Hirata is an absolute favourite of mine! I booked tickets for Birmingham ages ago so have no idea who I'll be seeing.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 I hope you have a terrific time Mary. Please tell us all about it after the event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emeralds Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 (edited) Am a tad surprised that Cesar Morales and Samara Downs aren’t cast in the first run- I would have thought they would be perfect as the leads. I do like all the casts, but unfortunately, my entire Feb is booked up now and I can’t go to either Southampton or Birmingham. Toi toi toi to the whole company though! Looking forward to members’ reviews and reactions. Edited January 27, 2022 by Emeralds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 Unfortunately that’s a bad week for travelling almost anywhere from Brighton as there will be ten whole days where there’s a bus service to Three Bridges (near Gatwick) and then train usually to Victoria but the way things are at the moment there have been no direct trains to Victoria for six weeks ....you have to change at East Croydon still and there’s no sign this is changing yet so could be a very long winded journey up to London. I’m considering not going to my usual classes ( week beg: Feb 21st) up in London let alone the theatre otherwise might have considered going to Birmingham for the day to see this. I can’t do the Southampton dates unfortunately so was considering Birmingham until got news about the trains!! I think it’s good Acosta is doing a whole new production for BRB and am sure will be an Improvement on RB one ....though I liked that one anyway though I know many weren’t that keen on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawnstar Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 5 minutes ago, LinMM said: I think it’s good Acosta is doing a whole new production for BRB and am sure will be an Improvement on RB one ....though I liked that one anyway though I know many weren’t that keen on it. Oh, I didn't realise it was a new production, I thought it was going to be the same as the RB's. I enjoyed that one when it was last revived in 2018. I can't get to either Southampton or Birmingham under current conditions so won't be able to see BRB. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 Oh, decisions, decisions. Do I go to the theatre where I can afford to sit down but can't afford the train fare, or vice versa? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted January 28, 2022 Author Share Posted January 28, 2022 According to the Nutcracker programme, in the dancer listing Samara was shown as being on maternity leave. Something on IG the other day leads me to believe that Cesar is recovering from injury. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZIj-pjlpTu/ Dawnstar, there’s no way the ROH production would fit into UK regional theatres or even be tourable with all those moving buildings. Also BRB is a smaller company than the RB. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the story or the choreography will be different. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 When I moved recently from the Midlands to the South West, I realised I’d be sacrificing so many opportunities to see BRB and the odd jaunt to London. However, I have found I can get to Plymouth in less than an hour, and to my delight have already seen BRB and Matthew Bourne . Have had front circle seats for an incredibly reasonable price, and unsure how quickly Don Q tickets might be snapped up, I booked them as soon as they were available. There are still quite a few excellent seats available, but I imagine the cost of travel and overnight stay would mean it’s not practical for many. Although I do recommend the area for a short break! Just hoping BRB will be able to continue to keep Plymouth on the touring schedule. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted January 28, 2022 Author Share Posted January 28, 2022 I've been to Plym on a number of occasions over the last 20 years or so. It is something of a journey to get there (by car or by train) but it has always been worth it. I think the theatre is fab and one of the highlights is the raising and lowering of the safety curtain!. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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