Birmingham
Royal Ballet Presents
Beauty And The Beast
Sunderland Empire
Thursday 28th – Saturday 30th
March 2019
Birmingham Royal Ballet will return to Sunderland
Empire with the enchanting and sumptuous production of Beauty and the Beast from 28
– 30 March 2019 for 4 performances only.
 |
| The Ball Scene Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet; photo: Bill Cooper |
Prepare to witness transformations, wild
waltzes, soaring birds and a relationship between Belle and the Beast that is
at first terrifying, but ultimately serene and beautiful in David Bintley's
glorious Gothic ballet.
 |
Delia Mathews as Belle and
Tyrone
Singleton as the Beast; photo: Bill Cooper
|
A cruel Prince, cursed to spend the rest of his
life living in a fantastical castle with the animals he callously hunted, finds
salvation in the heart of a beautiful girl. Caught stealing a single rose,
Belle’s desperate father exchanges his youngest daughter’s freedom for his own
life. In his distant castle the Beast, stripped of his handsome features and
his very humanity, must win her heart, or spend the rest of his life in bitter
solitude...
Tickets:
First
Steps: Beauty and the Beast
Want to bring children aged 3+ to their first
ballet? Why not join us for First Steps: Beauty and the Beast on Thursday 28
March at 1pm for an hour long, fun and interactive show. Tickets for for First Steps: Beauty
and the Beast: http://bit.ly/BRB1stSteps
#Ad
Birmingham
Royal Ballet - Class On Stage
Ever wondered what a ballet dancer does to
prepare for a day of rehearsal and performance? This is your chance to watch an
open Company class on stage and find out. Tickets for Birmingham
Royal Ballet - Class On Stage: http://bit.ly/BRBclassSund
#Ad
Ballet myth busting
with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Brandon Lawrence
Ahead
of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s national tour of Beauty and the Beast, dancer
Brandon Lawrence discusses five commonly held misconceptions about the world of
ballet.
1. Ballet revolves around old fashioned stories of
princes and fairies
 |
| Delia Mathews as Belle and Tyrone Singleton as the Beast; photo: Bill Cooper |
Ballet
and simply dance in general are becoming more and more mainstream, including
productions where many personal stories are being told. Classical ballets like Swan
Lake or The Nutcracker are the foundations of any classical ballet
company, but people have realised that, to appeal to a greater audience, it’s
important to explore numerous themes. For example, at Birmingham Royal Ballet
we perform adaptations of famous literature like Romeo and Juliet or Far
From the Madding Crowd, alongside ballets based a wide range of themes,
like conservation in ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café, or science in E=mc2,
or more abstract, physical pieces as part of our Ballet Now programme. There really is something for everyone.
2. Ballet is formal and elitist
 |
| Delia Mathews as Belle with Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet as the Ravens; photo: Bill Cooper |
It’s
about breaking down the barriers. The idea that ballet is formal and elitist is
fading. You don’t need to dress up to go to the ballet. At Birmingham Royal
Ballet we hold a variety of events which are inclusive not only to the young,
elderly and people from a diverse range of cultural and socioeconomic
backgrounds, but also to those with a disability. For example, we have recently
introduced relaxed performances of full-length ballets into our repertoire,
which are designed for people with an autistic spectrum condition, learning
disability or sensory and communication difficulties. Also, we so proud of our
associate company Freefall – a professional dance company for talented adults
with severe learning disabilities.
3. Ballet is really expensive
 |
| Delia Mathews as Belle and Iain Mackay as the Prince; photo: Roy Smiljanic |
Whilst
I can’t deny that theatre tickets can be expensive, a ticket to the ballet is
similar in price or even cheaper than a musical or a football match. When you
consider the hundreds of people in involved – dancers, orchestra, technical
crew, wardrobe staff etc – it’s good value for money. Also, as ballet is moving
forward as an art form and becoming more accessible, we’re also striving to
break down barriers to entry with discounts for children and groups,
sponsorship, deals for first time attendees etc. Therefore, it’s not as
expensive as people may think. There may even be added benefits to tickets like
talks, backstage tours and open days. Also, World Ballet Day is a great free
online introduction which is broadcast live on Facebook every October.
4. Ballet is not for men
 |
| Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet as Ravens; photo: Bill Cooper |
When
I was in training at the Royal Ballet School there were more men than ladies in
my year. I think it’s actually becoming more of a cool thing to dance. After
all, the beginnings of ballet way back in the 17th century started
with men! All ballet dancers are very strong and have incredible stamina. Many
footballs and athletes even use ballet as part of their training. Male dancers
in particular have impressive upper body strength because we have to lift our
partners about above our heads. The idea that ballet is not for men is a
definite myth.
5. You need to have an in-depth knowledge of ballet
in order to enjoy it
 |
| Iain Mackay as the Beast and Michael O'Hare as the Merchant; photo: Roy Smiljanic |
Everyone
can enjoy watching ballet – the physicality, the story or the live music – without
knowing anything about the technique or the history. Like any another form of
art or entertainment, it’s all about your individual interpretation. There
could be many things in a ballet you do or don’t like, or don’t understand, but
as a whole it’s what you take from it, what influence or effect it has on you.
The important thing is how you may connect to the story or the joy you may feel
in the energy of the performance. Mixing all this with a live orchestra is
something Birmingham Royal Ballet like to welcome all to experience.
Tickets:
First
Steps: Beauty and the Beast
Want to bring children aged 3+ to their first
ballet? Why not join us for First Steps: Beauty and the Beast on Thursday 28
March at 1pm for an hour long, fun and interactive show. Tickets for for First Steps: Beauty
and the Beast: http://bit.ly/BRB1stSteps
#Ad
Birmingham
Royal Ballet - Class On Stage
Ever wondered what a ballet dancer does to
prepare for a day of rehearsal and performance? This is your chance to watch an
open Company class on stage and find out. Tickets for Birmingham
Royal Ballet - Class On Stage: http://bit.ly/BRBclassSund
#Ad
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