Scottish Ballet is delighted to unveil a brand new festive production, The Sleeping Beauty, sponsored by Bank of Scotland, which tours to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Newcastle from early December.
Conceived by Artistic Director Ashley Page and designer Antony McDonald, the creative team behind Scottish Ballet’s hugely successful productions of The Nutcracker (2003) and Cinderella (2005), The Sleeping Beauty is the third of a trilogy of ballets with a fairytale theme, re-imagined with fresh relevance for a contemporary audience, and is presented with the surprising twists, devilish wit and stunning visuals synonymous with their creative partnership.
"Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who were grieved, more grieved than words can tell, because they had no children. They tried the waters of every country, made vows and pilgrimages, and did everything that could be done, but without result. At last, however, the queen found that her wishes were fulfilled, and in due course she gave birth to a daughter." Charles Perrault; La Belle au Bois dormant (The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood)
Princess Aurora is born into an enchanted world where mortal members of Europe’s sovereign court mingle with the celestial beings of the forest and their fairy kings. While at the royal baby’s christening, each of the kingdom’s fairies gift the child a number of virtues including truth, grace, beauty, intelligence and kindness.
A jealous fairy, fallen from grace watches on, enraged that she was not invited to join the celebrations, and casts the ultimate curse, that Aurora will, on her 16th birthday, prick her finger and die. Countering the spell, the Lilac Fairy declares that a profound slumber for 100 years can save the innocent child, until she is woken by a truelove kiss.
Unfolding through the kaleidoscopic perspective of over one hundred years, The Sleeping Beauty showcases a spectrum of fashions, from the simple elegance of 1830s Regency fashion and the opulent glamour of neo-gothic Victorian dress, through to the austere silhouette of 1940s post-war Europe, with Antony McDonald’s artistic vision rendering them by turns graceful, stylish and outrageous. The stunning sets create whole new worlds of magic and mystery, from the King and Queen’s beautiful garden to the enchanted forest through which the Prince travels to find his true love, and the score, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is alive with musical motifs full of exquisite poetic images, and will be performed live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra. Scottish Ballet's Artistic Director, Ashley Page comes to this new version of The Sleeping Beauty with memories of a former production, which was integral to the history, and international reputation of The Royal Ballet, the Company with which he was formerly a Principal dancer and choreographer. In turn, Page acknowledges the Company’s original production by awakening his Sleeping Beauty from her 100-year sleep in 1946, the year in which Sadler's Wells Ballet (who were later anointed Royal Ballet in 1956) reopened the Royal Opera House following the Second World War with Nicholas Sergeyev's version of The Sleeping Beauty, led by Margot Fonteyn.
The Sleeping Beauty is sponsored by Bank of Scotland who have enjoyed a successful partnership with Scottish Ballet for over 20 years. Their investment not only supports the Company in touring the production to Scotland, but also enables Scottish Ballet to provide a supporting Education Programme that allows school children the opportunity to experience an introduction to the Company’s work and to the many careers that are available within the industry.
DID YOU KNOW?
• The Sleeping Beauty was first choreographed by Marius Petipa, Ballet master of the Imperial Ballet, Russia in 1890, and is based on the 1697 classic story by fairy-tale forefather Charles Perrault.
• There are 5 casts that tour this production, with a Company of 42 dancers, 67 members of the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, 2 conductors, 13 full-time members of Scottish Ballet staff (Artistic, Technical, Wardrobe, Stage Management and a masseur) and 7 temporary members of staff , The Sleeping Beauty tour will see over 130 people on the road!
• The Company uses an estimated 1,170 pairs of ballet shoes in both the rehearsal and performance period of a full length ballet.
• Each tutu alone requires up to 40 hours of work and in excess of 10 metres of net, and with over 8000 individually hand sewn sequins, 299 different fabrics and over 200 costumes being made for the production - it’s no wonder that skilled shoe and costume makers throughout Europe are currently busy at work to help create the magic of what is sure to be this year’s most decadent festive production.
• For the very first time audiences are invited to 'Buy A Bit Of Beauty' this year, with a unique sponsorship programme that allows members of the public to sponsor individual objet du désir. Looking for the perfect Christmas Gift for your own fairy princess? Why not sponsor the Swarovski crystals embedded in the Lilac Fairy's ethereal gown, or for the green fingered in your family go for the somewhat more wonderfully obscure royal gardening tools from the Queen's gardens. Gifts start from £10 with a number of benefits.
• Scottish Ballet's The Sleeping Beauty is sprinkled with fairy tale references … see if you can spot your favourite characters including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White!
• The Sleeping Beauty will have a number of Audio Described performances. Scottish Ballet was the first dance Company in the UK to offer live audio-description for the visually impaired. These performances are preceded by a 'touch tour' where visually impaired audiences can enjoy the chance to enjoy aspects of the production, such as costumes and props, up close.
• Bank of Scotland invests around £4 million per year in an award-winning programme of sport and arts sponsorship. Partnerships include Scottish Ballet, Bank of Scotland Children's International Theatre Festival, Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert and the Edinburgh International Festival.
• In 2007, over 34,000 young people will be able to get involved in Bank of Scotland supported arts project.
• In 2000, the Bank developed this partnership to support Scottish Ballet's yearly Christmas production, initially as Scottish tour sponsor of Aladdin, achieving the Bank's aim to make performances accessible to young people and family audiences.
• In 2003/04, the Bank was the main sponsor of The Nutcracker, and sponsors of the accompanying Education Programme in Social Inclusion Partnership areas in Belfast and Glasgow.
• Bank of Scotland committed more than a third of a million pounds in support of the Company's highly acclaimed festive production of Cinderella and associated education programme including working with young people from Social Inclusion Partnership areas in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
LISTINGS
THEATRE ROYAL, GLASGOW
282 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 3QA
11–29 December 2007
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 December at 7.30pm
15, 20, 22, 24 and 29 December at 2pm
Wed & Thu evenings: £10 to £30
Fri & Sat evenings: £14 to £33
Matinees: £9 to £25
Family Tickets (Stalls and Upper Circle only):
Wed & Thurs evenings: £56 Fri & Sat evenings: £72
Discounts available please ask at Box Office
Audio Described Performances on Fri 15 at 7.30pm and Sat 16 at 2pm,
preceded by a touch tour. Please call the Box Office to reserve
tickets.
Free pre-show talks with Ashley Page on Thursday 14 & 21, 6.30pm,
and Richard Honner (conductor) on Thursday 28, 6.30pm. Places limited
–
please call the Box Office to reserve tickets.
Box Office 0870 060 6647 (bkg fee)
Book online www.theatreroyalglasgow.com (bkg fee)
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE
13–29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9FT
4–12 January 2008
4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 January at 7.30pm
5, 10 & 12 January at 2pm
Evenings: £9 to £34 Matinees: £7 to £27
Family Tickets
Matinees: £70 & £80 Evenings: £85 & £95
Discounts available please ask at Box Office
Audio Described Performances on Fri 12 at 7.30pm and Sat 13 at 2pm,
proceeded by a touch tour. Please call the Box Office to reserve
tickets.
Free pre-show talk with Ashley Page on Friday 5 and Thursday 11 at
6.30pm
and Richard Honner (conductor) on Wednesday 10 at 6.30pm. Places
limited –
please call the Box Office to reserve tickets
Box Office 0131 529 6000
Book online www.eft.co.uk
HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ABERDEEN
Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen AB25 1GL
16–19 January 2008
16-19 January at 7.30pm
17 & 19 January at 2pm
Evenings: £10.50 to £25.50 Matinees: £9.50 to £21.50
Family Tickets Wed–Thurs (Stalls and Upper Circle only) £55
Discounts available please ask at Box Office
Audio Described Performances on Fri 16 at 7.30pm and Sat 17 at 2.30pm,
preceded by a touch tour. Please call the Box Office to reserve
tickets.
Free pre-show talk with Ashley Page on Thursday 17 at 6.30pm and
Richard Honner (conductor) on Friday 16 at 6.30pm. Places limited –
please call the Box Office to reserve tickets.
Box Office 01224 641122 (bkg fee)
Book online www.hmtaberdeen.com
EDEN COURT, INVERNESS
Reay House, Old Edinburgh Road, Inverness, IV3 3HF
23-26 January 2008
23-26 at 7.30pm, 24 & 26 at 2pm
Evenings: £11.00 to £26.00 Matinees: £9.00 to £22.00
Family Tickets £60 (Wed and Thu only)
Discounts available please ask at Box Office
Audio Described Performances on Saturday 26 at 2pm, preceded by a touch
tour. Please call the Box Office to reserve tickets.
Free pre-show talk with Ashley Page on Thursday 24 at 6.30pm and
Richard Honner (conductor) on Friday 25 at 6.30pm. Places limited –
please call the Box Office to reserve tickets.
Box Office 01463 234 234 (bkg fee)
Book online www.eden-court.co.uk
THEATRE ROYAL, NEWCASTLE
100 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6BR
20 – 23 February 2008
20 – 23 February at 7.30pm, 21 & 23 at 2pm
Wed & Thu Evenings and Sat Matinee: £10.50–£30
Fri & Sat Evenings: £12.50–£32
Thu Matinee: £7.50–£21
Discounts available Please ask at Box Office
Audio Described Performances on Saturday 23 February at 2pm, preceded
by a touch tour.
Illustrated Talk learn more about The Sleeping Beauty as Ailsa-Mary
Gold from Scottish Ballet takes you through the Company’s approach to
the story, illustrated with photographs, music and costumes. Thursday
21 February at 11.30am–12.30pm, tickets: £2.50.
Free pre-show talk with Ashley Page on Thursday 21 at 6.30pm and
Richard Honner (Resident Conductor) on Friday 22 at 6.30pm. Places
limited – please call the Box Office to reserve tickets.
Box Office 08448 11 21 21
Book online www.theatreroyal.co.uk
