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Sleeping Beauty
Dec. 30th, 2022 05:04 pmFor the last few years (excluding 2020) between Christmas and New Year, we have gone up to Sadler's Wells theatre in London to see Matthew Bourne's New Adventures production. This year the production was Sleeping Beauty.
As with all Bourne's productions, they are a different take on the source material, although in this case the fairy story has many different origins. This is beautifully set, beginning in 1890, the year Tchaikovsky wrong the ballet music, which is used throughout. This act is very Gothic in style. Aurora comes of age in 1911, so the setting and costumes are of an Edwardian summer. 100 years later and the awakening is set in 2011, which was the year this version was first performed, with a dramatic finale in red and black. So brilliant sets and costumes.
The dancers were all excellent. SM was particularly taken by Ashley Shaw who was dancing Aurora that night. All the parts have two or three dancers allocated, and the majority of the dancers have two different roles. And I was delighted to see Paris Fitzpatrick as Count Lilac, the king of the fairies.
As ever all the different elements come together to create the story which carries the audience along. For us it's just the perfect way to enjoy the time of year.
As with all Bourne's productions, they are a different take on the source material, although in this case the fairy story has many different origins. This is beautifully set, beginning in 1890, the year Tchaikovsky wrong the ballet music, which is used throughout. This act is very Gothic in style. Aurora comes of age in 1911, so the setting and costumes are of an Edwardian summer. 100 years later and the awakening is set in 2011, which was the year this version was first performed, with a dramatic finale in red and black. So brilliant sets and costumes.
The dancers were all excellent. SM was particularly taken by Ashley Shaw who was dancing Aurora that night. All the parts have two or three dancers allocated, and the majority of the dancers have two different roles. And I was delighted to see Paris Fitzpatrick as Count Lilac, the king of the fairies.
As ever all the different elements come together to create the story which carries the audience along. For us it's just the perfect way to enjoy the time of year.
