Martin ThomassonTo begin at the ending. The audience loved it. Sadler’s Wells’ take on the 1979 film, based on The Who’s 1973 album, Quadrophenia, choreographed by Paul Roberts and directed by Rob Ashford, has a comfortable majority of us on our feet. By “us” I...
Carmel ThomasonMatthew Bourne’s New Adventures has grown a strong following at Lowry with innovative takes on classics like Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. The company’s latest production the Midnight Bell, which premiered in 2021, comes to...
If I were to begin this review by telling you the stars of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s revival of Cinderella are John Macfarlane’s design and David Finn’s lighting (here honoured and adapted by Peter Teigen), you might infer that I was being...
Cathy CrabbAfter 30 years of accolades, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake still has audiences on their feet at the end, enthralled, moved and wanting more. This deconstructed and thematically enhanced version of the original ballet is an unflinching look at royalty...
Nigeria’s QDance Company embodies the youthful vibrancy of Lagos in its ambitious 90 minute show, Re:Incarnation. It starts with the rhythmic banging of a drum resembling a heartbeat as the dancers, huddled together pulse as one. From this...
Michael Flatley may have retired from dancing some years ago, but his unique stamp is still clearly on this record-breaking show he created more than 25 years ago. In this updated version, fans of the superstar Irish dancer are in for a treat. And...
Jemma ChristieTwin sisters Kristina and Sadé Alleyne are the talented dancers behind the company ‘Alleyne Dance’ whose latest production, ‘Far From Home’ captures the intense struggles and emotions that come from forced migration. Kristina and Sadé, choreographed...
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Sir Peter Wright’s iconic production of The Sleeping Beauty for Birmingham Royal Ballet. Under the direction of Carlos Acosta this sumptuous production is revived to its full extravagance and splendour, living...
As the first real frost of winter sets in, it feels like even the weather has aligned to create the perfect setting for the enchanting return of Edward Scissorhands. In this dance version, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventure’s company takes the 1990 Tim...
Seeta Patel is surely the UK’s prime proponent of Bharatanatyam, the classical south Asian dance form. Whilst it is still the case that this form is less well known in this country than Kathak, that is in the process of changing, due in large part...