ENB’s The Sleeping Beauty: disappointing cuts skew the story

Sangeun Lee as Aurora with English National Ballet in Sir Kenneth MacMillan's The Sleeping Beauty

English National Ballet in Act 3 of Sir Kenneth MacMillan's The Sleeping Beauty

Sangeun Lee as Aurora with English National Ballet in Sir Kenneth MacMillan's The Sleeping Beauty

By Jonathan Gray, 30 November 2025

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“I enjoyed the barely disguised disdain Carabosse showed towards her fellow Fairies”

Reviewed at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on 27 November 2025

The Sleeping Beauty (Sir Kenneth MacMillan)

English National Ballet

Dominic Grier, Conductor

Peter Farmer, Set Designer

Nicholas Georgiadis, Costume Designer

English National Ballet Philharmonic

Ivana Bueno, Dancer

Elvis Nudo, Dancer

Junor Souza, Dancer

Thiago Silva, Dancer

The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling: violent, feral, tortured dance

Graham Watts, 30th March

In this latest revival of Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling, The Royal Ballet presents a roster of powerful and vivid interpretations across the board.

****1

National Ballet of Japan's revival of Manon was devastatingly good

Naomi Mori, 19th March

National Ballet of Japan in Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon has been revived six years after its performances were cancelled because of the pandemic. Exceptionally good interpretations led the opening night performance.

****1

Ballet superstars in Frankfurt for a night to savour

Vikki Jane Vile, 30th November

For one night only, audiences in Frankfurt were treated to some world class ballet on the expansive stage of the Jahrhunderthalle.

****1

Ballet Nights makes an impressive and unforgettable Scottish debut

Kathy Elgin, 4th July

Ballet Nights is more than an evening of party pieces: it showcases emerging talent alongside older favourites and, in the case of this first Scottish outing, has an eye to local tradition.

****1

Ballet Nights – Spring Into Summer a fascinating hotchpotch of dance

Graham Watts, 5th June

Ballet Nights 008 – Spring into Summer proved to be a judicious choice of quality and diverse repertoire.

****1

The RB's Romeo and Juliet: electrifying on-stage chemistry

Deborah Weiss, 5th May

A compelling performance of MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet from an excellent cast, proves to be a triumph for Patricio Revé, debuting with the Company and paired with Natalia Osipova.

*****

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Jonathan Gray

Jonathan Gray was born in Wales and studied at The Royal Ballet School, Leicester Polytechnic and Wimbledon School of Art. He was a member of the curatorial department of The Theatre Museum, London, from 1989 until 2005, and was editor of Dancing Times from 2008 until its closure in 2022.