Scottish Ballet returns with a powerful reinterpretation of an all-time classic. Incredibly moving and enduringly relevant, this unique version of Romeo & Juliet was created for Scottish Ballet by Polish choreographer Krzysztof Pastor in 2008, and has since gained status as one of the Company’s most iconic works. Read more …
Set in the 20th century, this passionate story of forbidden love unfolds in three dramatic acts.
The dancers of Scottish Ballet – for whom the piece was created – bring these iconic roles to life with emotional intensity and breathtaking performances. Romeo & Juliet is set to the world-famous Prokofiev score – performed live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.
This is a sure-fire hit, sparkling with life and suffused with drama and with Prokofiev’s exquisite score and Pastor’s highly inventive choreography you won’t fail to be captivated from start to finish.
There are moments of slippage where the Capulet ensemble need to be perfectly unified - the duets for Juliet’s friends are particularly tricky - but the whole feel and interpretation of a ballet that can, at times, feel very dense, is exactly right.
A powerful reinterpretation of the classic work, set against the breathtaking music of the live Scottish Ballet Orchestra, which performed an an atmospheric, spine-tingling score.
The level of intensity required, of both love and hate, doesn’t travel across the orchestra pit unless everyone buys into their role, but thankfully, the current crop of Scottish Ballet dancers have bought Shakespeare’s tale, and Pastor’s vision, wholesale.
The company seem to have improved in the parts that involve dancing and acting at the same time, which seemed slightly shaky in past productions.
The performances are exquisite and compelling; it’s difficult to see how it can be improved upon. A show to be savoured again and again.
The movement is delicate, subtle and sophisticated, the lighting is soft, the set minimal and it is altogether a visual masterpiece, beautiful to watch but detrimentally so.
Interview: Scottish Ballet artistic director Christopher Hampson on Romeo & Juliet
King's Theatre, Glasgow from Saturday April 19, 2014, until Saturday April 26, 2014. More info: www.theambassadors.com/kings/
His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen from Wednesday April 30, 2014, until Saturday May 3, 2014. More info: www.hmtaberdeen.com
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness from Wednesday May 7, 2014, until Saturday May 10, 2014. More info: www.eden-court.co.uk
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh from Wednesday May 21, 2014, until Saturday May 24, 2014. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/festival
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