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Press Release: English National Ballet presents Creature by Akram Khan at Sadler's Wells from 23 March - 1 April


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English National Ballet 
Creature by Akram Khan 
Sadler’s Wells, London 
23 March – 1 April 2023
www.ballet.org.uk/creature

 

★★★★★ Superb… a tight-wound drama that never lets up. [Khan] piles up themes and imagery into a monumental whole, with terrific performances from his cast.” The Independent 

This spring, English National Ballet presents the return of Akram Khan’s powerful ballet Creature at Sadler’s Wells from the 23 March – 1 April 2023, following performances in London and Chicago. 

Set in a dilapidated former Artic research station, the Creature has been conscripted by a military brigade to a bold new experimental programme. Here he is tested for his mental and physical ability to adapt to extreme environments, isolation and homesickness; vital qualities in mankind’s proposed colonisation of the ‘final frontiers’ on earth and beyond. 

Creature is an unearthly tale of exploitation and humanity, inspired by Georg Büchner’s expressionist classic Woyzeck, with shadows of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Drawing on themes of abandonment, loneliness and the fragility of the mind, Creature tells the story of an outsider and the search for belonging.

For Creature, Guest Artist and former Lead Principal of English National Ballet, Jeffrey Cirio returns in the title role, a performance which saw him win the Critics Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Male Classical Performance and included as one of Pointe Magazine’s standout performances of 2022. 

Following the pivotal impact of Dust and Giselle, Creature is Akram Khan’s third collaboration with English National Ballet and sees him reunited with his renowned creative team including Academy Award-winning designer Tim Yip, lighting designer Michael Hulls, Composer Vincenzo Lamanga and dramaturg Ruth Little. 

Ahead of its performances at Sadler’s Wells, a filmed adaptation of Creature directed by Academy Award-winner Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy, The Warrior), opens in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from the 24 February. For further information see www.ballet.org.uk/creature-film. 

Of Creature Akram Khan said: “I am excited to bring Creature back to Sadler’s Wells this spring. To have many of the original cast members return to perform this work only deepens the experience for both the performer and audience. I’m equally thrilled to collaborate with director Asif Kapadia on making a feature film of Creature, which has been an incredible experience, not just for me, but also for all those involved with the production and will give audiences across the country the opportunity to see the work on the big screen.”

Notes to Editors

A Co-Production between English National Ballet and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (OBV) 
Co-Producer: Sadler’s Wells, London 
Production Partner: The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater 
Production Sponsor: Cunard

English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England.
Ballymore is Principal Building Partner of English National Ballet.

 

About English National Ballet 

English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet’s growth and evolution ever since.

English National Ballet brings world class ballet to the widest possible audience through performances across the UK and on eminent international stages; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; its digital platforms Ballet on Demand and BalletActive; being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as Dance for Parkinson’s; and through talent development initiatives including Ballet Futures which looks to create a more diverse and inclusive future for the artform.

English National Ballet continues to add ground-breaking new works to its repertoire whilst celebrating the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw the Company enter a new chapter in its history with a move to a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in east London, allowing a renewed commitment to creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before.

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Jeffrey Cirio, Aitor Arrieta, Rentaro Nakaaki are cast as Creature (it will be a role debut for Rentaro), while Erina Takahashi, Fernanda Oliveira & Emily Suzuki return as Marie. On their Facebook page, ENB highlights with an asterisk the dancers who are making debuts in their roles, which is very nice.

 

I’ve decided to see it (didn’t catch the premiere run), equipped with some ear plugs. 😂 Ironically, if patrons want to chat about their holidays while chewing popcorn during the show, a la Swan Lake at the London Coliseum, the soundtrack will probably be loud enough to accommodate that. 😆

 

NB those hoping to catch Cirio as Creature - there’s an RMT rail strike on 30/3/23  when he is scheduled to dance, but he is dancing on 3 other dates as well. The other RMT strike date is on 1/4/23, which affects the Saturday matinee and evening shows. 

 

Edited by Emeralds
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  • alison changed the title to Press Release: English National Ballet presents Creature by Akram Khan at Sadler's Wells from 23 March - 1 April
17 hours ago, Scheherezade said:

I find it hard to think of anyone or anything that could induce me to see Creature again. 'Harrowing' falls some way short by way of the effect that it had on me. So no. Not even for the quite remarkable Mr Cirio.


whereas I am hopeful that the sound levels will have been addressed and am prepared to take a chance so have booked to see the quite remarkable Mr Cirio as future opportunities to see him dance are likely few and far between.

I will take earplugs and if I forget them they are available from front of house at Sadlers Wells.

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Press Release about casting:

 

English National Ballet 
Creature by Akram Khan 
Sadler’s Wells, London 
23 March – 1 April 2023
www.ballet.org.uk/creature

★★★★★ Superb… a tight-wound drama that never lets up. [Khan] piles up themes and imagery into a monumental whole, with terrific performances from his cast.” The Independent

 

English National Ballet announces Principal casting for the return of Akram Khan’s powerful ballet Creature at Sadler’s Wells from the 23 March – 1 April 2023. 

 

As previously announced Guest Artist and Principal of Boston Ballet Jeffrey Cirio returns to perform in the title role, which saw him win the Critics Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Male Classical Performance. Also performing in the title role is Principal Aitor Arrieta and First Artist Rentaro Nakaaki making his debut in the role. Performing in the role of Marie, the Creature’s keeper, is Lead Principals Fernanda Oliveria and Erina Takahashi, and Junior Soloist Emily Suzuki.  

 

The Doctor will be danced by Principal Emma Hawes, and First Artists Isabelle Brouwers, making her debut in the role, and Sarah Kundi. Performing in the role of Captain will be First Soloist Ken Saruhashi, First Artist Henry Dowden, and making his debut in the role, Artist of the Company Giorgio Garrett.

 

Performing as Major is First Soloists Fabian Reimair and James Streeter, and Soloist Skyler Martin, making his debut. Andres is danced by First Artists Noam Durand, Miguel Angel Maidana (debut in the role) and Victor Prigent. 

Helping to remove barriers and increase access to the artform, English National Ballet is thrilled to announce that over 1,000 tickets priced at £10 will be available for young people aged 16-30 to see Creature as part of Sadler’s Wells’ Barclays Dance Pass scheme. 

 

Set in a dilapidated former Artic research station, the Creature has been conscripted by a military brigade to a bold new experimental programme. Here he is tested for his mental and physical ability to adapt to extreme environments, isolation and homesickness; vital qualities in mankind’s proposed colonisation of the ‘final frontiers’ on earth and beyond. 

 

Creature is an unearthly tale of exploitation and humanity, inspired by Georg Büchner’s expressionist classic Woyzeck, with shadows of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Drawing on themes of abandonment, loneliness and the fragility of the mind, Creature tells the story of an outsider and the search for belonging.

 

Following the pivotal impact of Dust and Giselle, Creature is Akram Khan’s third collaboration with English National Ballet and sees him reunited with his renowned creative team including Academy Award-winning designer Tim Yip, lighting designer Michael Hulls, Composer Vincenzo Lamanga and dramaturg Ruth Little. 

 

Ahead of its performances at Sadler’s Wells, a filmed adaptation of Creature, directed by Academy Award-winner Asif Kapadia and hailed as a “new frontier in cinema” (Little White Lies), opens in select cinemas across the UK and Ireland from the 24 February. For further information see www.ballet.org.uk/creature-film. 

 

Creature Principal casting (In the order of the Creature, Marie, Doctor, Captain, Major, Andres)
Casting is subject to change. For up to date information please see www.ballet.org.uk

 

Thursday 23 March
Jeffrey Cirio, Erina Takahashi, Sarah Kundi, Ken Saruhashi, Fabian Reimair, Victor Prigent

 

Friday 24 March
Aitor Arrieta, Emily Suzuki, Emma Hawes, Henry Dowden, James Streeter, Noam Durand 

 

Saturday 25 March (matinee) 
Rentaro Nakaaki*, Fernanda Oliveira, Isabelle Brouwers*, Giorgio Garrett*, Skyler Martin*, Miguel Angel Maidana*

 

Saturday 25 March 
Jeffrey Cirio, Erina Takahashi, Sarah Kundi, Ken Saruhashi, Fabian Reimair, Victor Prigent

 

Tuesday 28 March 
Jeffrey Cirio, Erina Takahashi, Emma Hawes, Ken Saruhashi, Fabian Reimair, Victor Prigent

 

Wednesday 29 March 
Rentaro Nakaaki, Fernanda Oliveira, Isabelle Brouwers, Giorgio Garrett, Skyler Martin, Miguel Angel Maidana

 

Thursday 30 March 
Jeffrey Cirio, Erina Takahashi, Emma Hawes, Ken Saruhashi, Fabian Reimair, Victor Prigent

 

Friday 31 March 
Aitor Arrieta, Emily Suzuki, Sarah Kundi, Henry Dowden, James Streeter, Noam Durand 

 

Saturday 1 April (matinee) 
Rentaro Nakaaki, Fernanda Oliveira, Isabelle Brouwers, Giorgio Garrett, Skyler Martin, Miguel Angel Maidana

 

Saturday 1 April 
Aitor Arrieta, Emily Suzuki, Sarah Kundi, Henry Dowden, James Streeter, Noam Durand 

 

Notes to Editors

A Co-Production between English National Ballet and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (OBV) 
Co-Producer: Sadler’s Wells, London 
Production Partner: The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater 
Production Sponsor: Cunard

English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England.
Ballymore is Principal Building Partner of English National Ballet.
English National Ballet is an Associate Company at Sadler’s Wells

 

About English National Ballet 

English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet’s growth and evolution ever since.

English National Ballet brings world class ballet to the widest possible audience through performances across the UK and on eminent international stages; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; its digital platforms Ballet on Demand and BalletActive; being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as Dance for Parkinson’s; and through talent development initiatives including Ballet Futures which looks to create a more diverse and inclusive future for the artform.

 

English National Ballet continues to add ground-breaking new works to its repertoire whilst celebrating the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw the Company enter a new chapter in its history with a move to a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in east London, allowing a renewed commitment to creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before.

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Completely off topic but there is some good news coming for next year for ENB 

I can’t share it yet ( before 10am) but there is an interesting season coming up for next year! A mixture of some old favourites, completely new works …which actually look interesting…and then works which look new for ENB 

so altogether for me a much better year than this year has been! 

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