Groups enjoy ‘cracking’ evening in Manchester
David Nixon, OBE, and the attendees watching Julie Charlet. Photo: Rachel Poole.
Last Thursday Northern Ballet Theatre hosted a special event at City Inn, Manchester, to introduce group organisers to the wonderful world of The Nutcracker. Guests were given a greater insight to the production with a talk from the man behind the ballet, NBT Artistic Director, David Nixon OBE. They were then treated to the Chinese Dance and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy performed live by NBT dancers – a fantastic opportunity to enjoy these dances in an intimate setting.
Amidst the wine and fabulous canapés (the mini fish and chips went down a particular treat!) guests were able to see the Company’s new brand in all it’s glory – including previews of all of autumn’s new posters.
Whilst the group organisers booked their outing to The Palace Theatre this November to see the full production of The Nutcracker, one guest, budding ballerina Hannah (pictured below with dancers Ben Mitchell, Thomas Aragones and Julie Charlet) was delighted to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Budding Ballerina Hannah with Northern Ballet Theatre Dancers Ben Mitchell, Thomas Aragones and Julie Charlet. Photo: Rachel Poole.
New Nutcracker E-Flyer
The Nutcracker – On Tour this Autumn Winter Season
The production will be visiting Hull, Woking, Milton Keynes, Bath and Leeds between now and Christmas.
Click here for full tour details
Performance Day in Milan
All in all a very successful day. Whilst the Technicians returned to the theatre to complete the fit up, the dancers had a few more hours to explore Milan this morning before the taxis arrived at the hotel to take them to the theatre for class. The afternoon was spent with technical rehearsals for all 3 companies in the performance. The ballet was first to rehearse so there was more free time for the dancers whilst rehearsals continued for the others. Our Technicians were providing the technical support for the other companies so work continued for them.
The performance was scheduled for 8.30 with a reception beforehand. The first half was rather long and we eventually got to the interval at about 10pm. A quick change and then on with the ballet. First, we had the Nutcracker pas de deux danced by Julie Charlet and John Hull, then the pas de deux from Three Musketeers danced by Hironao and Keiko Takahashi, then the Dracula pas de deux danced by Martha Leebolt and Chris Hinton-Lewis. The final offering was Rhapsody in Blue.
The dancers gave excellent performances and all was received well by the audience. As far as Leeds City Council and Marketing Leeds are concerned, the week in Milan has been a triumph with the cultural offering playing a major part in the success.
A bit of free time on Friday morning before the flight back to Leeds (as long as the general strike doesn’t affect anything!)
Russian dance for new museum
NBT Dancers John Hull, David Ward, Thomas Aragones, Sebastian Loe and Ben Mitchell performed the Chinese and Russian dances from The Nutcracker in Leeds’ City Square to help celebrate the opening of the new City Museum. The museum will feature a costume from NBT’s A Sleeping Beauty Tale and the chance to discover dancer Lori Gilchrist’s dance journey.
NBT will visit Leeds Grand Theatre with performances of The Nutcracker from 17-31 December 2008.
NBT help celebrate the opening of Leeds Museum
Saturday 13 September, 11am
Opening of Leeds City Museum
Millennium Square, Leeds The new Leeds City Museum throws open its doors to the public this weekend and dancers from Northern Ballet Theatre will make a special appearance to start the celebrations in spectacular style. Five of our male dancers will perform the Chinese and Russian dances from The Nutcracker at 11am on an open-air stage in Millennium Square. A range of dance groups from Leeds will then perform throughout the weekend. The performances and the museum are free so why not come down and check it out.
The new Leeds City Museum throws open its doors to the public this weekend and dancers from Northern Ballet Theatre will make a special appearance to start the celebrations in spectacular style. Five of our male dancers will perform the Chinese and Russian dances from The Nutcracker at 11am on an open-air stage in Millennium Square. A range of dance groups from Leeds will then perform throughout the weekend. The performances and the museum are free so why not come down and check it out.
Read more about the opening of the Museum at: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/cityMuseum/City_Museum/Launch_of_Leeds_City_Museum.aspx
August eNewsletter
New Nutcracker Stuff!
Northern Ballet Theatre’s Autumn/Winter Tour sees the return of David Nixon’s sparkling festive favourite, The Nutcracker
The production will be visiting the following theatres around the UK:
Hull, New Theatre - 4-8 November 08
Woking, New Victoria Theatre - 11-15 November 08
Milton Keynes Theatre - 25-29 November 08
Bath, Theatre Royal - 2-6 December 08
Leeds, Grand Theatre - 17-31 December 08
To book tickets and to see the new gallery visit the recently renovated Nutcracker production pages
End of season update
Artistic Director news
The National Ballet of Slovenia has invited NBT’s Artistic Director David Nixon to recreate his version of The Nutcracker on the Company, which will première on 7 November 2008. The Estonian National Ballet has invited David to recreate The Three Musketeers, which will première in April 2009. This spring, David returned to BalletMet, Ohio, to oversee the revival of his Romeo & Juliet for the Company’s 30th anniversary celebrations. David was identified as one of BalletMet’s 30 Pearls in recognition of his contribution to the Company as Artistic Director. David also formally opened the Latimer Dance Space in London, choreographed Steps to Bach for Ballet Central, and was a regional judge for the Royal Academy of Dance’s ‘Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition’ with NBT Leading Soloist Pippa Moore.
New dancers and departures
Joining NBT this summer are dancers Graham Kotowich from the National Ballet School of Canada; James Pickup from the Ballet de l’Opera National de Bordeaux; and Yoshihisa Arai from the Royal Ballet School. Three new apprentices are also joining NBT: Rym Kechacha, a graduate of the Central School of Ballet, and Antoinette Brooks-Daw and Brice Asnar who are graduates of the Royal Ballet School. Dancers Chantelle Gotobed, Sarah Kundi and Kieran Stoneley are leaving the Company.
Promotions
Victoria Sibson, Martin Bell and Tobias Batley have been promoted to Junior Soloists, Ashley Dixon to Coryphée and, following their apprenticeships, Thomas Aragones, Rachael Gillespie, Ben Mitchell and Jessica Morgan enter the Company as 1st year dancers.
Visit our news pages for the full story: http://www.northernballettheatre.co.uk/news.html
The Nutcracker Story: The Southbank Show
Northern Ballet Theatre and David Nixon feature in The South Bank Show’s forthcoming programme about The Nutcracker …
Margy Kinmouth’s film examines the creation of Tchaikovsky’s ballet based on Hoffman’s dark fairy tale, and visits the Mariinsky Theatre in Russia where it premiered in 1892 only to remain unperformed for more than half a century. Plus, a preview of Andrei Konchalovsky’s $80million movie version due for release in late 2008.
David Nixon in the news
David Nixon took part in a discussion about the darker side of The Nutcracker on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour on Monday 10 December. You can listen again by following this link
David was also interviewed for a feature inspired by the BBC adaptation of the Ballet Shoes published in the Sunday Telegraph on 9 December .
Read the feature by following this link
Get Closer Events
This week, audiences have the chance to get closer to the action of The Nutcracker with a number of events at Leeds Grand Theatre. Ballet Explored on Thursday is a chance to watch the dancers take their daily class on stage, as well as finding out more about the company and the production with a talk by company dancer, Andrew Davidson.
And then on Saturday, there is a chance for the whole family to get creative and join in the festivities at our Nutcracker Family Fun Day. Children and adults alike will have fun making masks and headdresses in the craft workshop, and learning steps from the show in the dance workshop, before sitting back to enjoy the matinee performance of The Nutcracker.
Ballet Explored – Thursday 6th December, 11.15am – 12.15pm. £2.50
Nutcracker Family Fun Day – Saturday 8th December, 10am – 12.45pm. £4 children / £7 adults. Ticket deals available for the matinee performance
To book for these events, call the Leeds Grand Theatre box office on 0870 122 2815
Yorkshire school pupils dance for joy at new partnership
As part of NBT’s new partnership with the Halifax, pupils from Withinfields Primary School attended a matinee performance of The Nutcracker at Leeds Grand Theatre. NBT Dancers Christopher Hinton-Lewis and Martha Leebolt were on hand to welcome the pupils to the theatre and talk to them about their dance experiences. Also on hand was Alex Barnett, from the Halifax who said, “We are delighted to be embarking on this new partnership with the North’s premier ballet company. We are committed to investing in the local community, and this partnership will help us support the delivery of high quality and accessible arts activities for young people in Yorkshire.” For more information about our new project supported by the Halifax click here.
Sugar Plum Fairy launches charity Christmas cards
The Sugar Plum Fairy aka NBT Soloist Georgina Roberts will be flitting through Leeds tomorrow to open Gateway Yorkshire’s Christmas shop. Georgina will bring festive magic to the first sales of Christmas cards and gifts when the shop, in Leeds City Train Station, opens its doors at 10am.
Each year Gateway Yorkshire, the Tourist Information Centre, sells cards, advent calendars, children’s presents and wrapping to support a wide range of charities. 80p of each pound goes to charity.
NBT’s production of The Nutcracker opens at the Leeds Grand Theatre tonight and will run until 8 December. To find out more about NBT’s production click here.
Charities supported by the sale of cards and gifts include Alzheimer’s Society, A.R.C, Barnardo’s, British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, CARE, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Diabetes UK, Epilepsy Action, Help the Aged, Leonard Cheshire, Leukaemia Research, Macmillan Cancer Support, Mencap, Mind, Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Autistic Society, NCH, NSPCC, Parkinson’s Disease Society, Perennial Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Save the Children, Shelter, SSAFA Forces Help, The Children’s Society, The Home Farm Trust, The National Deaf Children’s Society, The Stroke Association, The 1959 Group of Charities, Candlelighters (Local Charity).
The Nutcracker Fun Weekend
A magical weekend of fun at Eureka!
We will be visiting Eureka! – The Museum for Children in Halifax on the 24 and 25 November. Join us for a special weekend of dance and events to celebrate Northern Ballet Theatre’s magical Christmas production The Nutcracker.
There will be lots of fun activities throughout the weekend so keep checking our website for further details. For further information about Eureka visit:
The Nutcracker on Invitica FM
“Invicta FM’s Nicola Everett has been invited to dance with the Northern Ballet Theatre during their tour to Canterbury with The Nutcracker. The production is being staged at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday 10th November and is said to be one of the world favourites.”
Please see the link below for David’s interview with Invicta FM and footage of the presenter taking part in Company Class yesterday at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury.
The Sugar Plum Fairy goes Christmas Shopping!
The Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker kicked-off her Christmas shopping last week at Fenwick department store in York. NBT Dancer Julie Charlet delighted staff, shoppers and a group of aspiring young ballet dancers from Isobel Dunn dance school in York when she made a surprise in-store appearance. Julie was promoting the Leeds performances of The Nutcracker (Leeds Grand Theatre, 27 Nov-8 Dec).
Fenwick is a valued sponsor of NBT and is running an in-store colouring competition to win tickets to see The Nutcracker in Leeds. Nicola Johnson, Managing Director at Fenwick, was delighted to see Julie surprising her customers, “We’ve always tried to support the arts in Yorkshire – I’m a keen ballet fan myself – and to have the Sugar Plum Fairy here at Fenwick York today is the cherry on the cake”. Photo credit: Lisa Stonehouse
Sunday Times review of The Nutcracker
The Sunday Times review of The Nutcracker can be found via this link. The article starts with reviews of ENB and BRB but goes on to discuss Nutcracker – you will need to scroll down a bit!
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/dance/article2689772.ece
Review of The Nutcracker in Sheffield
Click the link below to read The Star’s review of David Nixon’s The Nutcracker, on stage this week at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre.
http://www.thestar.co.uk/reviews/The-Nutcracker-The-Lyceum.3389874.jp
Click the link below to read the Sheffield Telegraph’s review.
http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/theatre/The-Nutcracker-Lyceum-Theatre.3396609.jp
The Nutcracker – Casts (Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield)
Wednesday 17 October/Thursday 18 October Matinee:
Clara – Pippa Moore
Drosselmeyer – Darren Goldsmith
Cavalier – Hironao Takahashi
Sugar Plum Fairy – Keiko Amemori
The Nutcracker – Christopher Hinton – Lewis
Mouse King – Kenneth Tindall
Thursday 18 October Evening:
Clara – Christie Duncan
Drosselmeyer – Darren Goldsmith
Cavalier – Yi Song
Sugar Plum Fairy – Georgina May
The Nutcracker – Ashley Dixon
Mouse King – Tobias Batley
Friday 19 October Matinee:
Clara – Pippa Moore
Drosselmeyer – Kenneth Tindall
Cavalier – John Hull
Sugar Plum Fairy – Julie Charlet
The Nutcracker – Christopher Hinton – Lewis
Mouse King – Michael Berkin
Friday 19 October Evening:
Clara – Christie Duncan
Drosselmeyer – Bendik Mildestveit
Cavalier – Yi Song
Sugar Plum Fairy – Georgina Roberts
The Nutcracker – Ashley Dixon
Mouse King – Tobias Batley
Saturday 20 October Matinee:
Clara – Ayana Kanda
Drosselmeyer – Bendik Mildestveit
Cavalier – John Hull
Sugar Plum Fairy – Julie Charlet
The Nutcracker – David Webb
Mouse King – Michael Berkin
Saturday 20 October Evening:
Clara – Pippa Moore
Drosselmeyer – Kenneth Tindall
Cavalier – Hironao Takahashi
Sugar Plum Fairy – Keiko Amemori
The Nutcracker – Christopher Hinton – Lewis
Mouse King – Michael Berkin
Reviews of The Nutcracker
Click here to read a review of Northern Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker, by Robert Beale of the Manchester Evening News…
Click here to read about The Nutcracker on the FringeReview website…
Click here to read an article on the production in the The Star newsapaper…
The Nutcracker World Première at Palace Theatre, Manchester
Last night at Palace Theatre, Manchester, Northern Ballet Theatre performed its dazzling new production of The Nutcracker for the first time. Photographs taken by Brian Slater and Mick Schofield.
The Nutcracker E-Flyer
UPDATE 23/10/08:
We have noticed many people searching for the Nutcracker are finding this old post.
You might be interested that Northern Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker is touring this Autumn/Winter season,
and will be visiting the following cities in the UK: Hull, Woking, Milton Keynes, Bath, Leeds.
Click here to see tour
Click here to see latest eflyer
Original post:
See the new E-Flyer for The Nutcracker here.
The Nutcracker
Manchester, Palace Theatre
Thurs 11 – Sun 14 October
Box Office: 0870 401 3000
