PRESS RELEASE: BRB MIDSCALE TOUR 2012

[Jan McNulty]

Media release: Thursday 5 April 2012

 

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET’S

MID-SCALE TOUR 2012

 

COMPANY AND ROYAL BALLET SINFONIA SPLIT IN HALF TO PERFORM IN MID-SCALE VENUES ACROSS THE UK

 

Birmingham Royal Ballet continues with its policy of presenting its diverse repertory to the widest possible audience into 2012. From May 8 – 16, the Company will once again split into two, with half of the Company and Royal Ballet Sinfonia travelling to the south and west of the country and the remaining half travelling to the north and east.

 

The split-tour initiative, now in its ninth year, enables the Company to present full-scale works, with orchestral accompaniment, in mid-scale venues not normally associated with a Company of this size. 2012 and the split tour will see the Company perform in Poole and Truro in the south and west and Durham, York and Buxton in the north and east. The works to be performed have been carefully chosen to demonstrate the versatility of Birmingham Royal Ballet, a company now firmly recognised as a major international force in the world of classical dance.

 

South-West tour spring 2012: Take Five / Concerto: Pas de deux / Swan Lake: White Swan pas de deux / The Two Pigeons: excerpt / The Grand Tour

 

 

The Lighthouse, Poole 8 - 9 May 2012

 

Hall for Cornwall, Truro 11 - 12 May 2012

 

This breathtaking programme presents a work from Birmingham Royal Ballet’s award-winning Director, alongside one from a master of the Broadway stage, and thrilling excerpts from some of the world-famous classics with which Birmingham Royal Ballet has made its name.

 

Take Five

A great lover of jazz, Take Five is Company Director David Bintley's latest jazz creation. Set to the iconic music of the legendary Dave Brubeck, this light hearted, laid-back, elegant ballet takes life calmly in its stride.

 

Bitesized ballet

After the success of the classic excerpts on last year's tour, Birmingham Royal Ballet presents highlights from three more of the world's greatest ballets. First is the beautiful pas de deux from Kenneth MacMillan's Concerto. Then, in the White Swan pas de deux from the greatest of all classical ballets, Swan Lake, a love-struck Odette and Prince Siegfried dance the night away in each others arms. We follow this with an excerpt from the most romantic of Frederick Ashton's works, The Two Pigeons. The ballet tells the tale of a frustrated fiancé's flight from the nest and his eventual return to the arms of his tearful lover.

 

The Grand Tour

All aboard for the roaring 20s! Setting out for Europe, our heroine, a spirited American spinster, can't believe her luck when she embarks on her cruise and finds herself in the company of a feast of famous faces. However, it turns out that Noël Coward, Gertrude Stein and George Bernard Shaw, to name but a few aren't necessarily the friendliest of shipmates. Add stowaways and a rather handsome Chief Steward into the mix and things might get a little complicated.

 

Choreographer of many films and hit Broadway shows, American Joe Layton's The Grand Tour is a genuinely funny take on the eccentric celebrities that populated England's stages, screens and newspapers in the 1920s, accompanied by unique orchestral renditions of Noël Coward songs.

 

 

North-East tour spring 2012: Lyric Pieces / Pineapple Poll / Hobson’s Choice: Clog Dance and Lily of Laguna / Elite Syncopations: Bethena Concert Waltz / Don Quixote: Pas de deux

 

 

Gala Theatre, Durham 8 - 9 May 2012

 

Theatre Royal, York 11 - 12 May 2012

 

Buxton Opera House 15 - 16 May 2012

 

This remarkable programme presents a work from great British choreographer John Cranko, alongside a brand-new ballet, and exhilarating excerpts from some world-famous classics.

 

Lyric Pieces

An exciting new work from award-winning American choreographer, Jessica Lang. Set to romantic piano miniatures by Edvard Grieg, this is her first work for a major European company.

 

Pineapple Poll

What might a classic cartoon look like if brought to life on stage? With the aid of a foot-tapping medley of the best of Gilbert and Sullivan and the comic choreographic touch of John Cranko, this is your opportunity to find out.

 

When the dashing Captain Belaye arrives in town, the female population swoon! Chief amongst them is Poll. Whilst half-heartedly dodging the attentions of Jasper, the Potboy at a local inn, she finds herself leading a band of desperate, lovelorn ladies, all seeking the attentions of the admirable officer, who is unwittingly taking the town by storm.

 

Wrapped up in his own little world, when will the oblivious Captain Belaye notice that half his crew have mysteriously shrunk and don't seem very at home in their beards?

 

Bite-sized ballet

Birmingham Royal Ballet presents three more highlights from some of our best-loved ballets. The Clog Dance and Lily of Laguna pas de deux from Company Director David Bintley's Hobson's Choice is a funny and warming peek into the lives of two unlikely lovers. This is followed by the 'Bethena Concert Waltz' from Kenneth MacMillan's comic ragtime ballet, Elite Syncopations. The programme finishes with the stunning, virtuoso pas de deux from Marius Petipa's great classic, Don Quixote.

 

ENDS

 

 

Notes to editors:

 

South tour venues

 

The Lighthouse, Poole8 - 9 May 2012 - Box Office: 0844 406 8666

Hall for Cornwall, Truro 11 - 12 May 2012 - Box Office: 01872 262466

Repertory:

Take Five

Concerto Pas de deux

Swan Lake White Swan pas de deux

The Two Pigeons excerpt

The Grand Tour

 

North tour venues

 

Gala Theatre, Durham 8 – 9 May 2012 - Box Office: 0191 332 4041

Theatre Royal, York 11 – 12 May 2012- Box Office: 01904 623568

Buxton Opera House 15 – 16 May 2012- Box Office: 0845 127 2190

Repertory:

Lyric Pieces

Pineapple Poll

Hobson’s Choice Clog Dance and Lily of Laguna

Elite Syncopations Bethena Concert Waltz

Don Quixote Pas de deux

 

(edited to delete personal contact details)

[alison]

I was meaning to ask, has anyone seen The Grand Tour before? I think it dates back to the early 70s, if I remember rightly. When I was reading it I wondered how audiences would react these days when they probably wouldn't recognise Stein, Shaw and Coward any more.