NBT presents A Tale of Two Cities
British choreographer Cathy Marston is creating a new full-length production for Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) based on Charles Dickens’ epic novel A Tale of Two Cities. The ballet has its première at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from Saturday 30 August to Saturday 6 September before touring to Nottingham and Sheffield.
Cathy’s interpretation of Dickens’ literary masterpiece focuses on the relationship between the three central characters, Sydney Carton, Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette, whose lives are inextricably caught up in the French revolution. Drawing on Cathy’s background in both classical and contemporary dance, A Tale of Two Cities will explore the central themes of fate, redemption, sacrifice and revenge.
Development in our campaign for a new building
Our campaign for a new building in central Leeds with Phoenix Dance Theatre took an important step forward last week when Leeds City Council announced that it will be working with Wates Construction as the preferred participating contractor.
As the project moves through the design process, Wates will work with the architects to develop the design proposals, solve any potential logistical problems and cost the building construction.
Our fundraising campaign, momentum, the campaign to raise the final £1.5 million required to complete the £12million project, continues to gather pace. For further information and to make your donation visit www.building-momentum.co.uk
Award nomination for Hamlet lighting design
Northern Ballet Theatre is delighted that Tim Mitchell has been nominated for a Knights of Illumination Award for his lighting designs for David Nixon’s Hamlet. The awards recognise the outstanding contribution to live performance by Lighting Designers and Tim Mitchell’s work for Hamlet was cited for its taste and restraint when so much was going on in the piece.
Tim has been nominated in the dance category alongside Lucy Carter for Chroma at the Royal Opera House and Katharine Williams for I am Falling at the Gate Theatre.
Peter Mumford, who will be working with Cathy Marston on Northern Ballet Theatre’s forthcoming production of A Tale of Two Cities, was nominated for his lighting designs for the drama production The Hothouse.
Also nominated is Paul Pyant for his work on the Lord of the Rings musical and the opera Minotaur at the ROH. Paul has designed lighting for a number of Northern Ballet Theatre productions including Romeo & Juliet and A Christmas Carol.
The awards, which are supported by Clay Paky, will be awarded in association with the Association of Lighting Designers and the Society of Television Lighting Designers at the annual Association of British Theatre Technicians dinner on June 11th 2008.
Midsummer Cast List – Cardiff
David Nixon’s Olivier Award Nominated Production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream visits Cardiff next week. The ballet will be on stage from 27th to the 31st of May in the city. To find out more information, or to book tickets, click here.
Here is a provisional casting for the production:
Tues 27
Theseus – Martin Bell
Hippolyta – Martha Leebolt
Hermia – Georgina May
Helena – Pippa Moore
Lysander – Kenneth Tindall
Demetrius – Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Puck – Ashley Dixon
Wed 28
Theseus – Hiro Takahashi
Hippolyta – Keiko Amemori
Hermia – Georgina May
Helena – Christie Duncan
Lysander – Kenneth Tindall
Demetrius – Toby Batley
Puck – Victoria Sibson
Thurs 29 matinee
Theseus – Martin Bell
Hippolyta – Martha Leebolt
Hermia – Hannah Bateman
Helena – Christie Duncan
Lysander – Kenneth Tindall
Demetrius – Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Puck – Kieran Stoneley
Thurs 29 eve
Theseus – Darren Goldsmith
Hippolyta – Pippa Moore
Hermia – Lori Gilchrist
Helena – Michela Paolacci
Lysander – Yi Song
Demetrius – David Ward
Puck – Victoria Sibson
Fri 30
Theseus – Hiro Takahashi
Hippolyta – Keiko Amemori
Hermia – Georgina May
Helena – Michela Paolacci
Lysander – Kenneth Tindall
Demetrius – David Ward
Puck – Kieran Stonley
Sat 31 matinee
Theseus – Hiro Takahashi
Hippolyta – Keiko Amemori
Hermia – Lori Gilchrist
Helena – Christie Duncan
Lysander – Yi Song
Demetrius – Toby Batley
Puck – Victoria Sibson
Sat 31 eve
Theseus – Martin Bell
Hippolyta – Martha Leebolt
Hermia – Georgina Roberts
Helena – Pippa Moore
Lysander – Kenneth Tindall
Demetrius – Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Puck – Ashley Dixon
The Dream in Manchester – Ballet Fashion Shoot!
Four of NBT’s dancers took part in a fashion shoot for the Manchester Evening News ahead of performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Palace Theatre last week.
Georgina May, Yi Song, Michela Paolacci and David Ward posed in beautiful 1940s costumes from the production at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, sometimes getting right down to their stylish smalls! (Photos: Sean Wilton)
The pictures accompanied Helen Tither’s article interview with David Nixon who not only choreographed the ballet but also designed the costumes. HERE
Click here to read a review of the first night performance at the Palace
Hamlet Cast Sheet for Milton Keynes
Tues 20
Hamlet – Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Gertrude – Nathalie Leger
Opheila – Georgina May
Claudius – Darren Goldsmith
Wed 21
Hamlet – Hiro Takahashi
Gertrude – Martha Leebolt
Opheila – Keiko Amemori
Claudius – Kenneth Tindall
Thurs 22 matinee
Hamlet – David Ward
Gertrude – Victoria Sibson
Opheila – Pippa Moore
Claudius – Martin Bell
Thurs 22 eve
Hamlet – Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Gertrude – Nathalie Leger
Opheila – Georgina May
Claudius – Darren Goldsmith
Fri 23
Hamlet – Hiro Takahashi
Gertrude – Martha Leebolt
Opheila – Keiko Amemori
Claudius – Kenneth Tindall
Sat 24 matinee
Hamlet – David Ward
Gertrude – Victoria Sibson
Opheila – Pippa Moore
Claudius – Martin Bell
Sat 24 eve
Hamlet – Christopher Hinton-Lewis
Gertrude – Nathalie Leger
Opheila – Georgina May
Claudius – Darren Goldsmith
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Hamlet takes to the stage at Sadler’s Wells
Our annual London season at Sadler’s Wells, sponsored by Manchester Airports Group, kicked off with a high profile opening night event. Guests from the worlds of art, business and media were all in attendance (photographs by Belinda Lawley). As ever the Company’s dancers and orchestra gave their all, delighting audiences throughout the week.
“Move over Nutcracker, this is big boys ballet – brutal, testosterone-driven and utterly gripping.” Islington Gazette
“The jarring and jagged routines from the troupe, led by Hinton-Lewis in the lead role, perhaps brought the raw torment of the piece across like no theatrical performance could.” Camden New Journal
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“Nixon is a master of psychological narrative: relationships are characterised by movement values, volumes are uttered in looks, glances and small gestures.” Gross Britannien
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L&A May Update
The ‘Dancition’ Festival which took place on the 16th April at Park Lane High School was a huge success and everyone involved in the project thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Representatives from the project sponsor HBOS watched as the 4 primary schools and 1 secondary school performed the dance pieces that they had devised over the Spring term, ranging from a sports inspired piece to an alien invasion! Following the success of the event, we are delighted that HBOS will be sponsoring another project in the area in the Autumn.
Laverne Meyer (1935 – 2008)
Northern Ballet Theatre (NBT) was very sad to hear the news of the death of Laverne Meyer, the Company’s founding Artistic Director, on Friday 25 April 2008 aged 73.
The Company dedicated the final performance of Hamlet at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London to Laverne. Daniel de Andrade, NBT’s Ballet Master, addressed the audience with a speech written by Artistic Director, David Nixon, who is away in America, which said:
“Laverne was instrumental in forming this small company which over its’ nearly 40 years of existence has risen to one of the four largest ballet companies in England with a loyal audience. We are extremely grateful to his pioneering spirit and passion for dance.
In honour of his memory and contribution to NBT we wish to dedicate this final performance of Hamlet to his memory. What better way or place to celebrate his love and passion for our beloved art of dance than here in the dance house of Sadler’s Wells.”
The Company would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Laverne.
Laverne Meyer was a Canadian-born dramatic dancer who trained at the Sadler’s Wells School and whose formative years as a dancer were spent with Bristol based Western Theatre Ballet. Laverne founded Northern Dance Theatre, as the company was then known, in 1969 and it gave its first performance at the University Theatre, Manchester, on the 28 November, accompanied by musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music. The Company was formed of just 11 dancers, compared to today’s 40, with an emphasis on small-scale classical and modern works. Based in Manchester, Northern Dance Theatre set about building itself a strong identity and a loyal audience in the North. Robert de Warren took over as Artistic Director in 1976.
Yorkshire Young Dancers and Musicians are excellent!
Seven students from NBT’s pre-vocational training programme are taking part in a special performance at Sadler’s Wells in London on 15 July. Top choreographer Sharon Watson is creating a new dance piece for the group and fellow Yorkshire Young Dancers from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. The group will also collaborate with eight students from Yorkshire Young Musicians who are creating a new composition for the performance with Andrew Stamatakis-Brown.
The performance is a celebration of the achievements of this country’s most talented young dancers and musicians supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Music and Dance Scheme.
Rehearsals are well underway and the group will give a special preview performance at the Riley Theatre in Leeds on 27 June. Read the full media release here.
Northern Ballet Theatre - News Blog 
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