Ashton's Cinderella - new Royal Ballet production

[Jan McNulty]

11 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said:

 

According to his IG he was involved in something with Scottish Ballet after Northern.

 

I should point out that it was one of his stories that I saw so no longer available.  He is also performing Gatsby in London with NB.

[Jan McNulty]

2 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said:

 

I should point out that it was one of his stories that I saw so no longer available.  He is also performing Gatsby in London with NB.

 

He is performing Stanley in Streetcar with Scottish!

 

https://www.scottishballet.co.uk/event/a-streetcar-named-desire

 

[capybara]

Thanks for the information, Janet.

This is what is happening increasingly. RB Principals simply get too few RB shows each, so guesting has become the norm.

[Blossom]

24 minutes ago, capybara said:

Thanks for the information, Janet.

This is what is happening increasingly. RB Principals simply get too few RB shows each, so guesting has become the norm.

I actually think it's brilliant that they guest around the country and even abroad - ambassadors for RB and British ballet as a whole. It's wonderful to see Federico Bonelli utilising his connections with the Royal Ballet, it's also great to see Isabella Gasparini and I think Luca Acri getting to dance principal roles in South America, apparently Osipova has guested with the Israel Ballet in Giselle (what a huge opportunity to see) and Nunez/Muntagirov have also guested out there in what is a tiny company in comparison with any of the British companies.

[FionaM]

20 minutes ago, capybara said:

Thanks for the information, Janet.

This is what is happening increasingly. RB Principals simply get too few RB shows each, so guesting has become the norm.

The irony.   I compare to 10 plus years ago when only 1 or 2 elite principals (Bussell, Costa, Cojocaru, Kobborg) were ‘allowed’ to guest elsewhere.   And when they did, their RB pay was docked.  I find this last part so shocking … those dancers are representing the company by dint of their association.  The company was, and still is, benefitting from their excellence exhibited around the world.  
 

I’m glad this has changed .. whether it’s gala performances or full-length guesting. 
 

The range of excellent principals at Royal Ballet is a treat for us.  And even better that they are guesting elsewhere to enrich (I don’t mean money) their own artistry with wider experiences.   Perhaps dancers like Adam Cooper could have had longer associations with RB if he’d not had to choose. 
 

I do wonder if the RB company needs another good sized theatre (aka Mariinsky, Bolshoi, Paris) to put on more performances for those dancers.  I’d think there would be the audiences too.  (As long as it’s not umpteen Cinderellas 🤣)

[Odyssey]

I’d also raise the thorny possibility of RB dancers guesting with BRB a little more frequently. I say thorny because  I know there’s an argument that this is robbing the home team of opportunities but, with the creation of BRB2, I think this has a  lesser  impact. I got the impression that the Company were pleased to be able to have Vadim Muntagirov taking  class with them in Plymouth and to observe him in a leading role at close hand.  Northern Ballet  has invited  Ryoichi Hirano this season. With Frederick Bonelli’s appointment, it seems possible such invites might extend to other dancers. I’m sure Bonelli is well aware of the pluses and minuses of the impact of guest artists.
A second house is a lovely, potential solution, but in this era of austerity, it seems an unrealistic prospect.  

[Jan McNulty]

53 minutes ago, Odyssey said:

I’d also raise the thorny possibility of RB dancers guesting with BRB a little more frequently. I say thorny because  I know there’s an argument that this is robbing the home team of opportunities but, with the creation of BRB2, I think this has a  lesser  impact. I got the impression that the Company were pleased to be able to have Vadim Muntagirov taking  class with them in Plymouth and to observe him in a leading role at close hand.  Northern Ballet  has invited  Ryoichi Hirano this season. With Frederick Bonelli’s appointment, it seems possible such invites might extend to other dancers. I’m sure Bonelli is well aware of the pluses and minuses of the impact of guest artists.
A second house is a lovely, potential solution, but in this era of austerity, it seems an unrealistic prospect.  

 

BRB2 is a junior company not the main company!  How does that lessen the impact?

 

Re NB and Ryo Hirano - NB lost some senior male dancers through retirement and alternative chances over the last year.  I think it was a matter of expedience that a guest was brought in.

[Dawnstar]

15 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said:

Re NB and Ryo Hirano - NB lost some senior male dancers through retirement and alternative chances over the last year.  I think it was a matter of expedience that a guest was brought in.

 

Given ENB lost 3 out of their 4 male Lead Principals last year I'm surprised they're not borrowing dancers from the RB too!

[Odyssey]

Perhaps I have misunderstood the brief Janet, but glancing through the original,press release it refers to it being an similar model to the Dutch National Ballet Junior Company  & ABT Studio Company, and elsewhere states 

 

 “This showcase puts the spotlight on the new talent in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s ranks in an exciting, crowd-pleasing and challenging way.” 

Opportunities for young dancers in the company to perform in a wider repertoire and to work closely with senior BRB staff. 
 

[SheilaC]

Janet and Odyssey are both right!  BRB2 has 7 members from the main company and 5 young dancers who have been taken on especially for BRB2.

[Jan McNulty]

38 minutes ago, Odyssey said:

Perhaps I have misunderstood the brief Janet, but glancing through the original,press release it refers to it being an similar model to the Dutch National Ballet Junior Company  & ABT Studio Company, and elsewhere states 

 

 “This showcase puts the spotlight on the new talent in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s ranks in an exciting, crowd-pleasing and challenging way.” 

Opportunities for young dancers in the company to perform in a wider repertoire and to work closely with senior BRB staff. 
 

 

It also states:

 

 

:BRB2 is a new initiative where BRB pro-actively seeks out some of the best young ballet graduates from around the world to join a two-year performance programme, providing vital employment for the next generation of exceptional ballet dancers (aged 18-22) to transition from training into jobs at BRB or other leading ballet companies, impacting the dance sector worldwide."

 

I believe the first cohort features most of the newest members of the company although the way I read the PR I assume that future iterations will be newly or near newly graduated dancers of 18-22 who will also have opportunities to dance with the main company before graduating into BRB or other companies at the end of the 2 years.

[FionaM]

Agree BRB2 is basically “BRB young graduates” ….
 

They get a chance to tour doing soloist performances in smaller venues with BRB2  and then supporting roles with the main company in the bigger productions.  It’s more attractive to young graduates than joining only the main company and doing only corps or spear-carrying for too many years.  

[Richard LH]

On 29/03/2023 at 14:14, Richard LH said:

No disrespect to Nicol Edmonds, but I was musing why the only other male Principal not otherwise cast as The Prince, Ryoichi Hirano, isn't stepping in for Sambe. Is Ryoichi still  away  at Northern Ballet, or otherwise engaged perhaps?

Marci Sambe has posted on IG that he is rehabilitating from an ankle injury, has now taken first ballet steps, and is  hoping to be back soon. Wishing him a speedy return...

[FionaM]

Running times:

 

Bumped into the stage manager upon leaving Cinderella yesterday … I remarked on the earlier finishing time yesterday … 10.20 before curtain calls.  And it started 5 minutes late.  So that’s 2 hours 45 minutes including intervals.  She says she’s pleased and also working on shortening the intervals. 

[Peanut68]

I felt the intervals were way too long….& boy are the bar staff well taught in up-selling:- 

when ordering 2 glasses before the start the bartender suggested “why not get a bottle? You know there are two 30 minute intervals so plenty of time to drink it!”

(Yes….time but not the constitution as had to leave a fair glass or more - what a waste!) 

[zxDaveM]

25 mins intervals would be ideal - PLENTY of time for the train dash at the end then. Even reducing one of the intervals to 25mins would be great!

[art_enthusiast]

7 hours ago, Richard LH said:

Marci Sambe has posted on IG that he is rehabilitating from an ankle injury, has now taken first ballet steps, and is  hoping to be back soon. Wishing him a speedy return...

that’s great, can’t wait to see him back

[art_enthusiast]

On 29/03/2023 at 21:39, Jan McNulty said:

Re NB and Ryo Hirano - NB lost some senior male dancers through retirement and alternative chances over the last year.  I think it was a matter of expedience that a guest was brought in.

Indeed - I’m really glad that’s he’s working with them and the Scottish ballet. It’s a great opportunity both ways. Hopefully they can also promote their current dancers further up the ranks as well, to make up for the open spots? I’m not very familiar with the company members so not sure if there are obvious candidates due for promotion currently.

[Jan McNulty]

Hello Benjamin,

 

This is the interview with Tom Pye, which shows the set photographs.

 

https://www.gramilano.com/2023/03/interview-designer-tom-pye-cinderella/

 

The Forum prefers that the original source is used rather than copying and pasting photographs.

 

If in doubt it is better not to post photographs (unless they are ones you have taken yourself).

 

 

[Henry]

Maybe many are aware already - but just to mention that Tom Pye, the set designer for the new production of Cinderella, has just won an Olivier award for his set designs for "My Neighbour Totoro".  

 

The sets and production of Act I reminded me a lot of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child".  As far as I know, Mr Pye was not involved with this, however, the projection designer and special effects designer, I believe, did work on it.  

 

I agree that the costume design does make me think of a technicolour film/ cartoon.  I don't necessarily mind that.  The bits that I would like to get rid of are the wigs, hairdos for the fairies, their escorts, dancing master, etc.  and also get rid of the children who accompany the fairies.  

 

 

[Fonty]

Maybe I should have posted my thoughts about the production on this thread, rather than the other one.  I had forgotten there were two threads.

 

[bridiem]

3 minutes ago, Fonty said:

Maybe I should have posted my thoughts about the production on this thread, rather than the other one.  I had forgotten there were two threads.

 

Your (very interesting!) comments were discussing the new production rather than giving news about it, so I think the other thread was the right one.

[art_enthusiast]

On 30/03/2023 at 17:17, Richard LH said:

Marci Sambe has posted on IG that he is rehabilitating from an ankle injury, has now taken first ballet steps, and is  hoping to be back soon. Wishing him a speedy return...

Just wondering, could you link this post as I can’t seem to find it

Was it on his story?

 

[Richard LH]

22 minutes ago, art_enthusiast said:

Just wondering, could you link this post as I can’t seem to find it

Was it on his story?

 

Yes it was.

[Emeralds]

I don’t suppose anyone has information (if already following artists on Instagram/Twitter, for example) on the casting information for Fairy Godmother and Stepsisters for 21-29 April or when the information will be out? The ROH website has info up to 19 April but that’s it. I would look it up myself but my devices seem to be unhappy with those two platforms at the moment (taking forever just to load one post). Thanks in advance!

[Dawnstar]

@Emeralds This is the only relevant tweet I've seen.

 

 

[Emeralds]

1 hour ago, Dawnstar said:

@Emeralds This is the only relevant tweet I've seen.

 

 

Thank you, Dawnstar! 

I assume that means Luca Acri will be paired with him for those dates. 

Am guessing that it doesn’t predict which Fairy Godmother they’ll be with. 

[alison]

I have a feeling Avis is also cast with someone else?

[FionaM]

8 hours ago, alison said:

I have a feeling Avis is also cast with someone else?

 I assume that too … because Luca is also paired with Tom Whitehouse.  

[zxDaveM]

36 minutes ago, FionaE said:

because Luca is also paired with Tom Whitehouse.  

 

(great) grandson of Mary?

[capybara]

Originally, it was Joshua Junker who was paired with Thomas Whitehead.

[alison]

12 hours ago, FionaE said:

 I assume that too … because Luca is also paired with Tom Whitehouse.  

That may have been what I was thinking of - and Tom Whitehead.

[Richard LH]

12 hours ago, Emeralds said:

Hopefully they’ll recoup some with the cinema screenings g - a bit concerned that a lot of venues do not seem to know how to find the casting or confirm it! There are still people asking who is dancing.... sigh. But at least a good number have said they’ve booked.

Our local cinema looks pretty full for this evening ...about 250 seats sold at a rough guess - probably  about 5 times as many as were at the Diamond Celebration screening.