Northern Ballet is to create a record three new full-length ballets for 2017. Following the previously announced World Première of Casanova in March 2017, Northern Ballet is also to adapt John Boyne’s bestselling novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, followed by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale The Little Mermaid. Northern Ballet will perform at a combined total of 22 venues across the UK with these new ballets.
Telling the story of an unlikely friendship blossoming through the disturbing events of World War II, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas will be choreographed and directed by Northern Ballet’s Artistic Associate Daniel de Andrade who most recently created full-length ballet Nijinsky – God of the Dance for Slovak National Theatre as well as shorter works for Northern Ballet including Fatal Kiss and children’s balletElves & the Shoemaker. The ballet will première at Cast in Doncaster from 25 – 27 May 2017 before touring to Wolverhampton, Leicester, Richmond, Aylesbury, Stoke, Bromley, Leeds and Hull (part of the city’s UK City of Culture celebrations) until September 2017. It will feature an original score by Oscar-nominated composer Gary Yershon, sets and costumes designed by Mark Bailey, lighting by Tim Mitchell and Dramatic Coach Patricia Doyle also joins the creative team.
Based on the famous fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid tells the story of a young mermaid who is willing to give up everything she knows in a search for love and the desire to gain a human soul. The Little Mermaid will be choreographed by Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director David Nixon OBE whose most recent creations for the Company include Cinderella, The Great Gatsby and Beauty & the Beast. This new production will première in Southampton at the Mayflower Theatre from 21 – 23 September 2017 before touring to Norwich, Newcastle, Nottingham, Canterbury, Woking, Sheffield and Leeds until December 2017. Details of the creative team are to be announced.
David Nixon OBE, Artistic Director at Northern Ballet, said: ‘2017 will be an exemplary example of Northern Ballet’s commitment to continuing to create new work and contributing to the dynamic UK dance scene. With an unprecedented three new full-length ballets in one year, I am delighted that we will be presenting audiences with such a diverse range of new productions. As a company of talented dance actors Northern Ballet is in a privileged position to be able to adapt so many different works and continue to challenge the idea of what stories can be told through dance.
The Little Mermaid is an enchanting story and the fantastical underwater world of the mermaids evokes such beautiful imagery that it will be an excellent addition to our repertoire. So many people have grown up with an awareness of this classic tale and so I am looking forward to introducing audiences to the world beyond the waves.’
Daniel de Andrade said: ‘I am absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to create my first full-length ballet for Northern Ballet. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a fascinating and eloquent story shining the spotlight on atrocious historical events from a perspective of complete naivety. Although the tale of Bruno and Shmuel is heart-breaking, their friendship throughout the story shows the purity of the human spirit in the face of absolute adversity.’
For booking information and on sale dates for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Little Mermaid see northernballet.com/whats-on
