Performances

Bournemouth Pier Theatre

The Nutcracker is a fabulous Christmas treat for all the family, and will really help to kick-start the Season and bring on the magic and excitement of Christmas.

Not only is Father Christmas making appearances in Act 1 and Act 2, but in Act 1 the Mice and Soldiers will make you laugh with their battle antics, the gorgeous Snowflakes - with falling snow - will make you gasp with its beauty and of course Tchiakovsky's delightful music will lift your soul.

And that's not all, for in Act 2 we are transported to the Kingdom of the Christmas Treats, which showcases the old-fashioned Christmas table, laden with Seasonal goodies to eat and decorated with the flora of the Season. There's also the Christmas Tree Angels, the Flowers and of course the sumptuous Grand Pas de Deux....all before Young Clara, dreaming herself to be all grown up, awakes, back to earth on Christmas morning...just as Father Christmas leaves...

This production is all about celebrating the magic of Christmas. It will not fail to get anyone in the mood for the Season, it won't cost the earth to come and see, and what's more you don't even need to travel to London when you'll be able to enjoy the best Christmas treat in town - right here in Bournemouth!! Book Now to secure your seats. THESE PERFORMANCES HAVE NOW CONCLUDED.

Coppelia
Tuesday April 13th to Wednesday April 14th 2010
The Bournemouth Pavilion

One of the most delightful and well-loved ballets of the repertoire, Coppelia tells the story of young lovers Swanilda and Franz who are betrothed, and of the strange Inventor, Dr Coppelius and his human-like doll creations - one of which catches the eye of Franz!

The inventors' latest creation, the doll Coppelia, sits in the window reading books all day. While Franz is fascinated by her and tries to grab her attention, Swanilda, who has tried to be friendly to her feels that Coppelia is rude and unsociable! Later that night when Dr Coppelius goes to the pub for a drink he loses his door-key on the way. Swanilda finds the key, and instead of following the old man and returning it, decides to embroil her friends in letting themselves into his house and finding out just who Coppelia really is! Her friends are reluctant to go with her, and try to talk her out of it, but she is insistent and so bravely, and not so bravely, they steel into Dr Coppelius's mysterious house.

But that's not all. Franz, unknowing of what Swanilda and the girls are up to, has decided that he is determined to meet this 'new' girl, who seems so aloof but enticing. He brings forth a ladder and climbs to the open window where Coppelia usually sits.....

Act 2 transports us to the mystical interior of Dr Coppelius's house - a truly magical but very scary place to be! Our production expands on the original version of Act 2 and includes many more dolls and actions, as inspired by the Australian Ballet production. Our girls nervously enter in the creepy shadows of mechanical, humanlike dolls at all stages of completion and try to make contact with Coppelia, only to eventually realise she is only a doll! They cause mayhem about the workshop until Coppelius arrives and scares them all off. All that is, except Swanhilda, who hides in Coppelia's boudoir. While the old man seeks some solace in a drink to calm him down, Franz creeps through the window, and it all kicks off again. Coppelius drugs the young man so he can attempt to transport his 'soul' into that of his beloved Coppelia, with the help of an ancient spell book. It seems at first as though he is succeeding until it is revealed that Swanilda has swapped clothes with the doll and is pretending to be the doll coming alive! She sees Franz collapsed on the table and trying to keep up the guise of being a doll, also tries to wake Franz, so that they can both escape. The old man tries to humour the doll, but unlike the other dolls he can't switch her off. Franz eventually recovers, Swanilda reveals who she is and they run away - but not before setting all the dolls in motion and revealing that Coppelia is not really alive, but still a motionless doll. The Act ends with a heartbroken Dr Coppelius sobbing over his beloved doll, and Swanhilda and Franz feeling a little bit sorry for their actions before they take flight!

Act 3 is the Wedding Day of Swanilda and Franz, and a day of celebration as a new bell has been gifted to the town church. The Mayor is feeling very generous indeed and not only hands money to the young couple to be, but also to Dr Coppelius for all the damage the couple managed to cause! Everyone is happy, and while the young couple marry in the Church, the town celebrates with special celebratory dances - Dawn (to celebrate new beginings), Prayer (to bless the people with joy and life), and the Hours (to signify the passing of time, and the using it wisely) among others! The Wedding over and the young couple reappear and dance a beautiful Pas de Deux before everyone gets into the celebrations - even Dr Coppelius.... and go on to live happily ever after!
THIS BALLET IS CURRENTLY IN REHEARSAL - TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!

Snow White
Friday 2nd July to Saturday 3rd July 2010
Lighthouse Theatre, Poole

July is our Season of Original Ballet - a brand new creation from top to bottom! Snow White will be a very exciting production indeed. The dancers will be able to create new and original roles and characters, that have never been danced before, and the ballet as an original concept will evolve with them and their talents. If you thought Mermaid was an interesting and creative experience in ballet, then Snow White will not fail to please either. As usual there will be stunning music, interesting characters, gripping storyline, and some excellent dancing from all ranks of cast.

Grimms' fairytale of the innocent and gentle Snow White is brought to life in an originally created Three Act Ballet of the famous tale, woven together with elements of historical fact as well as fiction. A totally thrilling yet charming interpretation, it reveals the extreme vanity and deceitfulness of the wicked Ursula who marries Snow White's widowed father - her will pitched against the purity and love of the naturally beautiful Snow White, his daughter - and welded together with the zealous loyalty and fanatical ambition of the Queen's henchmen (Nifty and Shifty) who will do anything to gain her favour!!

From the depths of the Queen's mystical underworld to the delightful home of the little-people amidst a forest clearing, against a grand medieval palace this ballet has it all - and as usual, fabulous music to accompany an intriguing and engaging plot! Don't miss out!!!

"The Ballet, Snow White, is dedicated to my beautiful daughter, Tiana Burns, whose idea it was to write and create this ballet in the first place. I hope she will be able to come over to England to see it for herself" CARON YARDLEY