Theatre Royal Nottingham – until Saturday 7th October 2023
Reviewed by Jill Heslop
5*****
What a treat is in store for those heading to Nottingham’s Theatre Royal this week to see Northern Ballet’s sumptuous production of Beauty and the Beast. Choreographed and directed by David Nixon CBE with haute couture-style costumes designed by him too, this ballet is a moving, world-class display of elegance and precision. The live musical score, including Bizet and Debussy, is arranged by John Longstaff, conducted by Geoffrey Paterson and delivered with moving precision by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia.
The performance was given extra heart due to the announcement by the musicians before the performance that live music in Northern Ballet is under threat. The audience and cast responded supportively to this, especially at the end of the evening with the musicians and dancers having worked so well together to produce such a beautifully executed production.
The story of Beauty and the Beast is a well-known fairytale and there is a hint of magic in the elaborate mirrored sets by Duncan Hayler. The castle is rendered well with impressions of ivy-clad walls for the Beast, played by Kevin Poeung, to scale during his animalistic roving through his prison-like property. Contrasts are cleverly set up between Prince Orian (Jonathan Hanks) as arrogant and narcissistic and the Beast (Kevin Poeung) as uncouth and self-loathing; Beauty, played charmingly by Dominique Larose, as gentle and caring and Beauty’s sisters, as spoilt and shallow, played with fun and energy by Julie Nunés and Heather Lehan. All this is conveyed to the audience with perfect timing in combination with the music, used with precision to match the action of the dance.
The dancing is a blend of strong classical technique with naturalistic movements and impressive storytelling. We are moved by the elegant and graceful nature of Beauty’s dancing in comparison to the lumbering and tortured gymnastics of the Beast as they develop their relationship. The choice of Debussy’s Clare De Lune during the dream sequence is beautifully rendered with flowing movements of the dancers matched by the shimmering costumes. Dramatic lighting, designed by Tim Mitchell, adds to the atmosphere throughout with colourful and bright costumes adding to the playful tone such as when the sisters return from a successful shopping trip loaded down with shopping bags!
The motif of the rose is used throughout the performance as a symbol of giving and receiving. The story of Beauty and the Beast itself is a timely reminder of the importance of kindness to one another and how kindness is a transformative power. The poignancy of this message is mesmerisingly rendered by the cast of this beautifully produced ballet resulting in a transporting theatrical experience.