North East Theatre Guide: Preview BRB Beauty and the Beast at Sunderland Empire

Birmingham Royal Ballet

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast; Nao Sakuma as Belle and Iain Mackay as the Beast; Photo Roy Smiljanic

Sunderland Empire

Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 November 2014

Birmingham Royal Ballet, one of the world's leading classical ballet companies, is thrilled to return to Sunderland Empire, its home in the North East, from Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 November 2014. The internationally acclaimed and award-winning company will embark on Sunderland Empire with David Bintley's gothic fairytale Beauty and the Beast.

Elisha Willis as Belle

Photo Bill Cooper

Beauty and the Beast, a firm favourite for all the family, ballet aficionados and first-time attendees to a ballet, promises to delight audiences in Sunderland when it is performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Iain Mackay as the Beast and

Michael O'Hare as the Merchant

Photo Roy Smiljanic

This production of Beauty and the Beast, one of the most popular ballets in Birmingham Royal Ballet's repertoire, received its world premiere on 1 Dec= ember 2003 at the Company's home theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome. Created by David Bintley, Birmingham Royal Ballet's Director and widely recognised as one of Britain's finest choreographers, the production has gone from strength to strength in the eleven years since its creation. Now this story of passion and prejudice returns to Sunderland Empire for four performances only.

Beauty and the Beast

Artists of BirminghamRoyal Ballet

Photo Bill Cooper

Searching the country to salvage his lost fortune, a once-wealthy merchant seeks shelter in a mysterious castle, where invisible forces tend to his every need. The merchant's older daughters have demanded gifts of gold, jewels and fine clothes; the youngest, Belle, has asked for a single rose.

Chi Cao as the Beast and

Michael O'Hare as the Merchant

Photo Bill Cooper

But when the merchant plucks just one bloom from the garden of the castle he unleashes a fearsome Beast, who exacts a terrible forfeit: in return for the merchant's life, he must send his daughter Belle to live in the castle. As the dazzlingly beautiful Belle prepares to meet her beastly captor, she is about to discover for herself the meaning of true love.

Chi Cao as the Beast

Photo Bill Cooper

A beautiful girl, a hideous beast, a golden ballroom full of animals, two outrageously haughty sisters and a grumpy grandmother worthy of Roald Dahl, dance, prance and rage through the unfolding pages of Philip Prowse's stunning storybook set of forests and castles, whilst David Bintley's rich choreographic palette brings to life magical transformations, wild waltzes, soaring formations of birds and a relationship between Belle and the Beast that is at first terrifying, but ultimately serene and beautiful.

Marion Tait as the Grandmother

Photo Roy Smiljanic

Weaving some delightful new twists into this timeless fable, David Bintley's Beauty and the Beast is the classic family treat danced by some of the world's greatest dancers. With Philip Prowse's fairytale sets and amazing costumes, and Glenn Buhr's irresistibly melodic, sparkling and beautiful original score, played by members of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, the orchestra of Birmingham Royal Ballet, this is an unforgettable evening of entertainment for all ages.

Tickets

Tickets priced from £13 can be purchased in person from the Box Office on High Street West, Sunderland or from £14.90 from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* and online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland *

*Booking fees apply to telephone and online sales.