At Birmingham Hippodrome from last night until 15th June 2019 is [Un]leashed, a superb set of three ballets by three magnificent female choreographers, performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.
In short, last night was an outstanding evening watching three very contemporary ballets that were mesmerising, expressive and flawless performances from all involved.
Lyric Pieces
Jessica Langs, Lyric Pieces is named after Edvard Griegs collection of 66 short pieces for solo piano. This ballet performance compliments Edvard Griegs music perfectly (played last night by the very talented Jonathan Higgins). It was elegant, breathtaking and the set designs by Elena Comendador and lighting by Nicole Pearce are fantastic. Giant concertina props form scenery, opening like giant paper fans, turning into pillars, rooms, walls and mazes, all controlled and moved by the 8 incredibly talented ballet dancers who perform the set of 10 dances within this 26 minute performance.
My stand out performances from this section were the Norwegian Melody performed by Brandon Lawrence and Tzu-Chao Chou and the beautifully performed Phantom by Celine Gittens and Brandon Lawrence. Yvette Knight also did a tremendous solo performance with the Peasant’s Song.
It was a playful, contemporary piece that will keep everyone’s attention. You almost don’t want to breath as you watch it.
Sense of Time
Didy Veldman has created a ballet piece that will leave you creating lots of storylines in your head. A chance to use your imagination to decide what you think the storyline is. It has been commissioned with the latest score by Gabriel Profokiev which has an almost spaceship/ufo feel to the sound. At points I expected a UFO to land on the stage when the music really started to get going. At other points I tried to work out why a ballet dancer had a suitcase on his head.
It’s different, it is contemporary and it is quirky. And it it utterly fantastic.
It looks at change in our modern world, suitcases dipicting early war years and yet a presence on stage like something in many years to come.
This world premiere is unique.
With 12 dancers, all holding important parts within the performance, it is hard to pick out one or two fantastic performances. Aitor Galende is always magnificent in the roles he plays, giving a flawless performance and the same with Tyrone Singleton. It was lovely to see Delia Mathews on the stage who is one of my favourite female ballerinas from BRB,but together they all worked perfectly. This was a great ensemble performance.
The interval that follows this performance is one filled with questions about Sense of Time. Interest, curiosity and a sure love of what everyone had just seen.
It was different, but it worked.
Peter and the Wolf
Many people will know Peter and the Wolf and will remember Sergei Prokofiev’s version. Ruth Brill has reimagined this and has placed a brand new modern spin on the traditional story. Put yourself in Digbeth, near the custard factory and this is where you could imagine this production being shown. There’s a street dance feel, scaffolding on the stage, a traffic cone upside down in a basket ball hoop, a stray shopping trolley, it’s raw, it’s rugged and it is brilliant.
Even more unique about this performance is the narration (Hollie McNish) of the show. For the first time in my life, I was watching a ballet where the story was being told.
Throughout the performance the audience were giggling, smiling and enjoying a modern almost cheeky performance of the show.
The characters are all highlighted via an instrument from the orchestra. Eg. The flute is played when the bird (Tzu-Chao Chou) is performing.
The story remains the same but is performed in a modern, contemporary way.
Laura Day plays the role of Peter and Mathias Dingman is the Wolf. Two strong, well performing ballet dancers. Brooke Ray plays the role of the duck, often getting the audience laughing as she moved across the stage, trying not to be eaten by the Wolf. Samara Downs was superb as the cat, fantastic movement and posture throughout. There’s also the Grandfather and the three Hunters who all keep the audience smiling.
[Un]leashed gave a fantastic evening of ballet.
One that I think will be talked about for quite a while.
Thank you Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Disclaimer: We were gifted this opportunity. All views and thoughts are entirely my own. Photographs provided by BRB.
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