Icy worlds collide in Scottish Ballet's euphoric Secret Theatre

By Graham Watts, 22 December 2020

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“a metaphor for reawakening closed theatres is just the tonic to combat Tier 4 tears”

Reviewed at Unknown Venue, Unknown on 21 December 2020

The Secret Theatre (Peter Darrell, Christopher Hampson)

Scottish Ballet

Gavin Sutherland, Conductor

Jessica Wright, Video director

Lez Brotherston, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Morgann Runacre-Temple, Video director

Leo Tetteh, Dancer

Alice Kawalek, Dancer

Bruno Micchiardi, Dancer

Nicholas Shoesmith, Dancer

Kayla-Maree Tarantolo, Dancer

Thomas Edwards, Dancer

Constance Devernay, Dancer

Sophie Martin, Dancer

Jerome Anthony Barnes, Dancer

Scottish Ballet Orchestra

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

Scottish Ballet's Nutcracker: brimming with Christmas magic

Kathy Elgin, 6th December

In the third revival since 2014, Peter Darrell's 1973 Nutcracker still has all the right ingredients to send the audience home feeling joyous.

*****

Scottish Ballet excels in a diverse, quirky quadruple bill

Kathy Elgin, 16th October

By the time a rain of multicoloured paper hands floated down from above, a bizarre figure in orange strolled onstage, ignored by everybody, the audience was in love with the whole thing.

****1

Ballet Nights: a diverse, delicious and dynamic programme

Deborah Weiss, 29th June

Ballet Nights is getting better and better. This was a truly diverse programme with something for everyone.

****1

National Ballet of Japan: Tales of Hoffmann, a successful revival

Naomi Mori, 23rd February

National Ballet of Japan have revived Peter Darrell’s Tales of Hoffmann and whilst this may not be a masterpiece, served to show how much the company is evolving, with excellent lead dancers.

****1

Northern Ballet at 50: a gala celebration in Leeds

Graham Watts, 4th January

Northern Ballet reaches its half-century with a gala at Leeds Grand Theatre featuring highlights from its "greatest hits".

***11

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Graham Watts

Graham Watts is a freelance dance writer and critic writing regularly for Dancing Times, Dance Europe, Danza Europa, and many more publications. He regularly writes features for Sadler’s Wells, London Coliseum and La Scala. Chairman of the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle in the United Kingdom and of the UK National Dance Awards he has interviewed many of the greatest names in dance including Maya Plisetskaya, Vladimir Vasiliev, Boris Eifman, Alexei Ratmansky, Andris Liepa, Sir Peter Wright, David Bintley and Dame Gillian Lynne. When not involved in dance Graham is a keen fencer, and has captained the British Sabre team.

The Secret Theatre: icy worlds collide in Scottish Ballet's euphoric Christmas show