SWAN LAKE A BALLET BY DAVID NIXON OBE Leeds Grand Theatre 17 - 26 June 2021 Dear audiences, we heartily welcome you back to our tour. As I write this, following one of the most challenging years our industry has ever faced, there is a palpable sense of optimism and excitement that the light is finally at the end of the tunnel and better days are just around the corner. Indeed, it feels like a victory that I am writing this note knowing it will be read by audiences attending our first tour since autumn 2019. Through the darkest days of lockdown, at Northern Ballet we have found opportunities to let our creativity shine a light. Without the tour demanding most of our time and resources, our programme of digital films has grown exponentially in unexpected and wonderful ways. However, performing live in front of an audience is in our blood; at the very core of why we do the job we do. We are still limited in terms of the productions we are able to rehearse and perform whilst adhering to the safety measures we have in place Welcome to protect our company. In Salford and London, we performed an adapted version of Dangerous Liaisons which was also a big success when we were able to revive it for a brief number of performances at Leeds Playhouse in October 2020. Contemporary Cuts 2021, David Nixon OBE performed in London only, is a fantastic programme of our most Artistic Director popular contemporary short works and excerpts from full-length productions. This programme includes Kenneth Tindall’s States of Mind which was our first stage production to be created entirely during lockdown. Finally, we have returned to Leeds Grand Theatre, one of our home venues, with our unique interpretation of Swan Lake. Although the tour this season will only reach three venues, we are just thrilled that even this short tour has been possible. We have bigger plans afoot for another tour later in 2021 that will see us return to more towns and cities that we have missed visiting a great deal. I do hope that circumstances for us all will continue to improve in the coming weeks and months. Once again, I would like to thank each and every one of our supporters, audience members, staff and freelancers for all you have done over this difficult period. I would also like to thank the students from our Professional Graduate Programme and English National Ballet School for supporting us with their participation in Swan Lake. Continue to stay safe everyone. Enjoy these performances and we will be back again soon. David Nixon OBE. Photo Simon Lawson. 2 Cover: Hannah Bateman and Javier Torres in Swan Lake. Photo Guy Farrow. Choreography and Costume Design David Nixon OBE Set Design Dave Gillan S WA N Lighting Design Peter Mumford Tour Lighting Alastair West LAKE Dramatic Associate Patricia Doyle Creative Team Music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Music Director Jonathan Lo Production supported by Orchestration John Longstaff Music played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia Daniel de Andrade Audio Description Yoko Ichino supported by Revival Restaging Christelle Horna Hannah Bateman and Javier Torres in Swan Lake. Photo Guy Farrow. 3 Creative Team David Nixon OBE CHOREOGRAPHY & COSTUME DESIGN See page 13. Dave Gillan Peter Mumford Alastair West SET DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN TOUR LIGHTING Dave is a Fine Art Graduate of the Peter trained as a stage designer at Alastair graduated from Bretton Hall Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art Central School of Art in London and in 2004 with a degree in Performance Dundee, specialising in sculpture. He has worked extensively in the UK and Design and Production, having first began working as a scenic artist Europe on numerous award-winning specialised in Lighting Design. with Welsh National Opera and has opera and theatre productions. He He is currently Head of Lighting since worked extensively in opera, has won many awards for his work for Northern Ballet where he has ballet, TV, theatre and film. He has including the Olivier Lighting Award designed for multiple full-length worked on several Northern Ballet for The Bacchai (National Theatre) and short works for the Company productions including Dracula. and a Knight of Illumination Award for including most recently Geisha. Sucker Punch (Royal Court). He has also designed lighting for Northern Ballet’s Madame Butterfly, Peter Pan and A Tale of Two Cities. Patricia Doyle Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky John Longstaff DRAMATIC ASSOCIATE MUSIC ORCHESTRATION Patricia trained at the RADA and Tchaikovsky was born in Russia in John was born in Lancashire worked as an actress with the National 1840 and studied at the St. Petersburg and educated at Girton College, Theatre, Royal Court Theatre and the School of Jurispudence, becoming Cambridge and Guildhall School of Royal Shakespeare Company as well a clerk with the Ministry of Justice Music and Drama. He has worked as in repertory, radio and television before attending the newly opened with numerous opera and ballet internationally. She has numerous St. Petersburg Conservatory. After companies, including some 20 director credits for theatre and short graduating, he began to compose full-length productions for Northern film, and has a long association with and completed his first ballet score, Ballet, as well as being arranger and Northern Ballet where she has worked Swan Lake, in 1875 before going on musical director for three of the on some 15 productions including to compose more of ballet’s most Company’s children’s ballets; Ugly most recently The Great Gatsby and recognisable and best-loved scores, Duckling, Three Little Pigs and Elves & Cinderella. still popular today, until his death in the Shoemaker. 1893. For full biographies visit northernballet.com/swan-lake 4 Northern Ballet dancers in Swan Lake. Photo Emma Kauldhar. 5 The Story Prologue Act I The lakeside of Anthony’s family The last summer of youth, 1912 estate in New England A grown-up Anthony gazes out into the lake. He In the middle of the night, has not been swimming in the lake since that young Anthony and his brother night but remains obsessed with its allure. His Steven have stolen from their college friends, including his best friend Simon, beds determined to swim in the arrive to spend the afternoon with him. lake. Steven, thinking better Anthony’s mother and father, with several of the night swim, tries to stop young ladies, join the picnic by the water. Anthony but ends up watching With them is Odilia, a close friend of both him disappear into the black Anthony and Simon. The pleasant moment is pool. Mistaking the quiet for broken as Anthony observes his mother’s tears a problem, Steven follows his recalling that dreaded night at the lake and an brother. Anthony climbs out to exchanged glance reminds both of the tension discover Steven gone and starts that has never disappeared. Unable to let go of calling his name. his guilt he withdraws into himself. The household, awakened by the The young people enjoy the afternoon and boy’s cries, come running to the leave for home, except for Odilia, Simon and lake. A search ensues but Steven Anthony. Simon returns to the jetty leaving is lost. In the midst of her grief, Anthony alone with Odilia. The uncomplicated Anthony’s mother accuses her ease of their relationship is broken as Odilia son, realising her folly too late. reveals her feelings for Anthony. Anthony’s The loss of his brother and the reaction embarrasses her and she runs from guilt now imprinted upon him the lake. The revelations of the afternoon are forever, Anthony flees the scene. not over as Simon and Anthony discover a new side to their relationship. Anthony is frightened and confused. Simon leaves Anthony alone by the lake. Determined to face the fear and attraction of the lake, Anthony returns to the jetty’s edge. As he gazes into the watery mirror a creature rises up into his arms. The creature, Odette, emerges from the reeds and Anthony is drawn irrevocably to her. Holding her in his arms he feels an unknown joy and freedom. Odette slips from his grasp and is replaced by many more of the swan-like creatures. Patiently he awaits her return and is soon rewarded with her once again sliding into his arms but, as dawn draws near, the women melt into the mist and Anthony is gone. Simon returns looking for Anthony and is surprised to see him climbing from the lake. Simon is shocked at the transformation in his friend and Anthony struggles to understand his return to reality. 6 Characters Act II Anthony Late autumn, Anthony’s coming of age party A young man. He is Anthony is alone in his bedroom. His mother haunted by a tragedy enters with a birthday present for her from his past and melancholy son. Simon interrupts them and confused by his Anthony’s mother leaves the feelings for his two friends alone. close friends. Anthony greets his guests, whose company he has hidden from these past months. The evening transforms with the arrival of Odilia back from her travels abroad. Her confident Simon entrance and radiant beauty catch everyone’s Anthony’s best friend. attention. Anthony gazes as if for the first time He competes with upon Odilia who, in her glittering white gown, Odilia for Anthony’s conjures up the image of his swan. The rest of affection. the world stops as Anthony, Simon and Odilia become involved in a dance. The fiery display comes to an end and the rest of the party join in.