Press Release: Northern Ballet announces performances in Southampton in 2014

[Jan McNulty]

Northern Ballet announces performances in Southampton in 2014

 

This summer Northern Ballet will add the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton to its extensive national tour for the very first time. The Company will perform two productions: Olivier Award-nominated A Midsummer Night’s Dream from 27 to 31 May, and a new ballet for children, Three Little Pigs, on 30 May.

 

Northern Ballet is one of the UK’s best-loved and most prolific ballet companies, touring more new work to more venues around the UK than any other British dance company. Its two annual national tours regularly take in over 15 venues with the Company performing to around 120,000 people per year.

 

Mark Skipper DL, Northern Ballet’s Chief Executive said: ‘We are delighted to announce the addition of this major new venue on the South Coast to our national tour. We are committed to bringing world-class ballet to the widest possible audience and the Mayflower Theatre gives us an opportunity to extend that reach. The Mayflower is already home to a great variety of dance productions and we are excited to add Northern Ballet’s exciting work to the mix. We hope to captivate and inspire audiences and to develop a long relationship with the theatre and the city of Southampton.’

 

Michael Ockwell, Mayflower Theatre Chief Executive said, ‘I set out in our new artistic vision to provide a programme of events that is wide-ranging and eclectic and this  involved bringing the finest dance companies to the south. I am thrilled to announce that the fantastic Northern Ballet will be added to the programme of shows for 2014 with their version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and a children’s production of Three Little Pigs. I look forward to developing a strong partnership with Northern Ballet to bring more of their original productions for our audiences to enjoy and to complement the wonderful dance we already offer.’

 

Northern Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by Artistic Director David Nixon OBE, sees the romantic antics of a touring dance company played out on one magical night as the company travels by sleeper train from London to Edinburgh. During the final rehearsal emotions run high as artistic temperaments clash with romantic entanglements. The time comes to leave for Edinburgh but the tensions continue onboard the train as the company settles down for the night. The train enters a tunnel and the dream begins.

 

Three Little Pigs is the perfect opportunity to introduce little ones to the magic of live ballet, music and theatre at child-friendly performances lasting approximately forty minutes. This is the second production in Northern Ballet’s series of Short Ballet’s for Small People, which are designed to encourage families and young children to see their first ballet at an affordable price and in a relaxed setting. Tickets cost £4 and £5.

 

Tickets for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Three Little Pigs are on sale from Monday 10 June to Northern Ballet Friends and Members of the Mayflower Theatre and general sale from Friday 14 June. Call the Mayflower Box Office on 02380 711811 or book online at mayflower.org.uk

 

ENDS

[florence]

Thanks for highlighting this. Will be great to see them down South.

[alison]

Hmm.  I wonder how they will do in such an enormous theatre, though?  I mean, it's the equivalent of putting them on at the Coliseum in London - ENB often struggle to fill it.

 

And I thought the Arts Council had rules about the various ballet companies not treading on each other's toes ...

[Jan McNulty]

Well good on them for giving it a go!  BRB used to appear in Southampton and NB used to do dates in Eastbourne.  Perhaphs the south coast is feeling starved of ballet and made representations.

[alison]

It probably is.  Come to think of it, last time I was down in Soton I got chatting to some more local people and they were complaining about the lack of dance provision down there.  I suspect the fact that there's not much in the way of venues between the cavernous Mayflower and whatever they've got on the University campus is responsible.

[Pas de Quatre]

Wow - at last!