BEYOND WORDS

2018/19 SEASONAT BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROMESubscribe and save up to 22%

WELCOME

I am very excited to be sharing our 2018/19 Birmingham season with you. Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Beyond Words season weaves a series of enduring stories into dance, bringing them to life for a modern world. Join us for those indescribable moments that only the beauty and electricity of live dance and music can offer.

From the perpetual sunshine of Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée, to the storybook fantasy of my own Beauty and the Beast and the endearing, mischievous fun of Hobson’s Choice, the full-length ballets of our Beyond Words season capture classic stories we all love, told in a universal language.

Beyond Words also includes two world premieres, both part of our pioneering Ballet Now programme. Firstly, Fire & Fury introduces Juanjo Arqués’s Ignite alongside my The King Dances, which was televised with an accompanying documentary about Louis XIV in 2015.

Secondly, Didy Veldman’s new work for the Company will premiere alongside Jessica Lang’s Lyric Pieces and Petra and the Wolf, a new take on Peter and the Wolf by our own Ruth Brill.

Finally, of course, Sir Peter Wright’s acclaimed production of The Nutcracker returns to Birmingham Hippodrome for the festive season, transporting the audience beyond the theatre to a realm of giant Christmas trees and dancing snowflakes.

We hope to welcome you as a subscriber and to share these amazing ballets with you.

CONTENTS

WELCOME

AUTUMN 2018La Fille mal gardéeFire & FuryThe King Dances | Ignite

CHRISTMAS 2018The Nutcracker

SPRING 2019Beauty and the Beast

SUMMER 2019[Un]leashedLyric Pieces | New Veldman | Petra and the Wolf

Hobson’s Choice

BOOKING

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David Bintley cbe, Director

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PRIORITY BOOKING

Subscription: BRB Friends & Renewals – 21 February, 11amSingle Tickets: BRB Friends – 16 April, 11am

PUBLIC BOOKING

New Subscriptions: 13 March, 11am Single Tickets: 19 April, 11am

Call Birmingham Hippodrome on 0844 338 5000 to book. Calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your telephone operator’s charge.

Cover: Momoko Hirata by Ty Singleton; photographs: Richard Battye; Bill Cooper; Andrew Ross; Ty Singleton; Roy Smiljanic

Join BRB Friends today to secure priority booking: brb.org.uk/friends

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La Fille mal gardéeASHTON’S CLASSIC ENGLISH COMEDY

Funny, tender and true, La Fille mal gardée (The Wayward Daughter) is a lovely ballet of rural bliss that will put a spectacular spring in your step.

When country beauty Lise falls in love with farm lad Colas, she’s about to upset the apple cart. Her mother, Widow Simone, has her own ideas about who her daughter should marry. Enter Thomas, a pompous and wealthy vineyard owner. And Alain, his rich son – attractive as a potato, smart as a turnip and the proud possessor of two left feet.

Now sit back and enjoy as this merry crew try to meet their heart’s desires with hilarious results. Ever popular because of its simple, engaging story and wonderful wit, La Fille mal gardée remains a firm favourite for all the family.

All performances feature live music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted for these performances by Paul Murphy, Philip Ellis, Jonathan Lo and Tom Seligman.

AUTUMN 2018

Wednesday 26 – Saturday 29 September

‘Enchantingly and hilariously silly... but moving and infinitely dignified too’

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

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Music Ferdinand HéroldArranged by John Lanchbery

Choreography Frederick AshtonDesigns Osbert Lancaster

Lighting Peter Teigen

First Steps (ages 3+)28 September, 1pm

Class on stage29 September, 11.45am

Audience open day29 September, 12pm

Audio description29 September, matinee

Pre-performance talk28 September, 6.30pm

Touch Tour29 September, 10.30am

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‘As finely wrought an English comedyas The Importance of Being Earnest’THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

La Fille mal gardée

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Fire & FuryTHE KING DANCES | IGNITE

Two incredible ballets, one from established choreographer, Director David Bintley, and one from a choreographer working on this scale for the first time, Juanjo Arqués.

When young King Louis XIV of France danced the role of the Sun God in a spectacular court entertainment he earned himself the soubriquet The Sun King. In The King Dances, David Bintley casts a modern eye on the very beginnings of ballet, when men were kings of dance.

As part of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s innovative Ballet Now programme, Juanjo Arqués’s Ignite, inspired by Turner’s painting The Burning of the House of Lords and Commons, receives its world premiere in Birmingham.

All performances feature live music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted for these performances by by Martin Georgiev and Jonathan Lo.

AUTUMN 2018

Wednesday 3 – Saturday 6 October

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Pre-performance talk5 October, 6.30pm

Ballet Now is generously supported by Oak Foundation’s Special Interest Programme, which provided major funding for the project, Anthony Coombs and The Keith Coombs Trust, The Big Give 2017, The John Feeney Charitable Trust, The John S Cohen Foundation, The H Steven and PE Wood Charitable Trust, The W and M Morris Charitable Trust, the estate of Judith and John Percival, and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s New Work Syndicate 2017 and Director’s Appeal 2017.The King Dances is supported (2015) by The Patrick Trust, Jennifer Rowe, and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s New Work Syndicate 2015 and Director’s Appeal 2015.

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‘A regal performance with heart and dazzle’THE GUARDIAN ON THE KING DANCES

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THE KING DANCESMusic Stephen Montague

Choreography David BintleyDesigns Katrina LindsayLighting Peter Mumford

IGNITEMusic Kate Whitley

Choreography Juanjo ArquésDesigns Tatyana van Walsum

Lighting Bert Dalhuysen

brb.org.uk/nutcrackerBooking open now! 0844 338 5000*

The NutcrackerSIR PETER WRIGHT’S QUINTESSENTIAL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

In this most festive ballet, gigantic sets, lavish costumes, 60 dancers and a full orchestra combine to make the perfect Christmas treat for the entire family. This world-famous production by Sir Peter Wright, with extraordinary designs by John Macfarlane, is acclaimed as one of the best in the world.

When young Clara sneaks downstairs on Christmas Eve to play with her new Nutcracker Doll, she is swept away on an adventure of gigantic proportions. A magical Christmas tree, a winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and the sparkling Sugar Plum Fairy create the enchanting world of The Nutcracker, where toys come to life and dreams come true.

All performances feature live music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted for these performances by Matthew Rowe , Koen Kessels, Paul Murphy and Philip Ellis.

CHRISTMAS 2018

Friday 23 November – Thursday 13 December

‘A ballet in a million and an annual sell-out’

THE BIRMINGHAM POST

Music Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyChoreography Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Vincent Redmon

Production Peter WrightDesigns John F. Macfarlane

Lighting David A. Finn

Pre-performance talk30 November, 6.30pm

Audience open day24 November, 12pm

Audio description24 November, matinee

Touch tour24 November, 10.30am

Class on stage24 November, 11.15am

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Beauty and the BeastA DARK AND BEAUTIFUL FAMILY FAIRYTALE

A cruel Prince, cursed to spend the rest of his life living in a fantastical castle with the animals he callously hunted, finds salvation in the heart of a beautiful girl. Caught stealing asingle rose, Belle’s desperate father exchanges his youngest daughter’s freedom for his own life. In his distant castle the Beast, stripped of his handsome features and his veryhumanity, must win her heart, or spend the rest of his life in bitter solitude.

Witness transformations, wild waltzes, soaring birds and a relationship between Belle and the Beast that is at first terrifying, but ultimately serene and beautiful.

All performances feature live music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted for these performances by Paul Murphy, Koen Kessels and Philip Ellis.

SPRING 2019

Tuesday 19 February – Saturday 2 March

‘A weighty and memorable productionthat is utterly immersive’

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Music Glenn BuhrChoreography David Bintley

Designs Philip ProwseLighting Mark JonathanAudio description

23 February, matineeTouch tour23 February, 10.30am

Class on stage23 February, 11.45am

Audience open day20 & 23 February, 12pm

Pre-performance talk1 March, 6.30pm

First Steps (ages 3+)1 March, 1pm

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‘A thing of beauty... enthralling’THE STAGE

Beauty and the Beast

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[Un]leashedLYRIC PIECES | NEW VELDMAN | PETRA AND THE WOLF

Birmingham Royal Ballet presents an unmissable opportunity to see three stunning ballets by female choreographers, including the world premiere of the third Ballet Now commission by Didy Veldman, with a score by Gabriel Prokofiev, grandson of Sergei Prokofiev, the composer of Romeo and Juliet and the final ballet in our programme.

We will also see the welcome return of Jessica Lang’s beautiful Lyric Pieces, created for the Company as part of International Dance Festival Birmingham 2012 and the first main-stage performances of Petra and the Wolf, an innovative contemporary view of Sergei Prokofiev’s famous suite, Peter and the Wolf, choreographed by the Company’s Ruth Brill.

All performances feature live music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

SUMMER 2019

Wednesday 12 – Saturday 15 June

‘A ballet of dreams and romantic moods that succeeds beautifully’

THE STAGE ON LYRIC PIECES

Pre-performance talk14 June, 6.30pm

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LYRIC PIECESMusic Edvard Grieg

Choreography Jessica LangDesigns Elena Comendador

Lighting Nicole Pierce

NEW VELDMANMusic Gabriel Prokofiev

Choreography Didy Veldman

PETRA AND THE WOLFMusic Sergei Prokofiev

Choreography Ruth Brill

Ballet Now is generously supported by Oak Foundation’s Special Interest Programme, which provided major funding for the project, Anthony Coombs and The Keith Coombs Trust, The Big Give 2017, The John Feeney Charitable Trust, The John S Cohen Foundation, The H Steven and PE Wood Charitable Trust, The W and M Morris Charitable Trust, the estate of Judith and John Percival, and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s New Work Syndicate 2017 and Director’s Appeal 2017.

Hobson’s ChoiceDAVID BINTLEY’S SUPERB NORTHERN COMEDY

When Hobson’s Choice was premiered at the Royal Opera House in 1989, David Bintley’s earthy comedy after Harold Brighouse’s play received a standing ovation the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the premiere of Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée in 1960. With one of those scores you can’t help but whistle, composed by Paul Reade composer of themes for The Antiques Roadshow and The Flumps, the ballet has remained hugely popular ever since.

Don’t miss your chance to join feisty Maggie as she puts the world to rights, outsmarts her inebriated father, bags herself the perfect man and starts up her own business to boot, in what is without doubt a classic of our time.

All performances feature live music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul Murphy and Philip Ellis.

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SUMMER 2019

Wednesday 19 – Saturday 22 June

‘Delightful, loveable comedy... Bintley’s finest and most entertaining work’

THE ARTS DESK

Music Paul ReadeChoreography David Bintley

Designs Hayden Griffin(Costumes co-designed with Claudia Meyer)

Lighting John B. Read

Pre-performance talk21 June, 6.30pm

Audience open day22 June, 12pm

Audio description22 June, matinee

Touch tour22 June, 10.30am

Class on stage22 June, 11.45am

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Hobson’s Choice

‘A warm and tender ballet that just radiates with Bintley’s mischievous sense of fun’

THE STAGE

Dance and musicBIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET AND THE ROYAL BALLET SINFONIA

WHO WE ARE

At Birmingham Royal Ballet we celebrate our art through spectacular live performances around the UK and by working with local communities. We encourage everyone to take the ballet challenge and let us capture their imagination with this amazing, powerful and dramatic art form.

Drawing from a talent-pool of dancers and musicians from around the world, we fuse world-class dance and music into a wide range of different productions. These include traditional classical works alongside pieces that span the creative history of ballet through the 20th century, and new works created for the Company that push the art form forward.

Our Director, choreographer David Bintley, and our Music Director, conductor Koen Kessels, inspire top-quality artistry that is able to tackle the complex demands of world-class ballet and music.

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INDIVIDUAL TICKETSBRB Friends & Donors: 16 Apr, 11am Public booking: 19 Apr, 11am The Nutcracker: already on sale

Pricing for each performance is defined as GOLD, SILVER or BRONZE (see calendar opposite for dates). The Nutcracker tickets from £20/£25/£30† Beauty and the Beast tickets from £18/£26/£28†

La Fille mal gardée and Hobson’s Choice tickets from £16/£25/£27†

Fire & Fury and [Un]leashed tickets from £12†

CONCESSIONS (Excludes Saturday performances)

Unwaged, Under 18s, 60+: £3 off price band A; £4 off B–D; Family tickets: up to two under-16s pay half price with every full-paying adult (A-E); BRB Friends: save 10%

* Calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your telephone operator’s charge. † 5% transaction charge applies (except purchases that include a subscription, or cash payments in person). Postage from £1. For full T&Cs visit birminghamhippodrome.com/terms-conditions

First Steps An hour-long introduction to ballet for children aged three and above; with dancers and orchestra (1pm; £12.50).

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0844 338 5000*birminghamhippodrome.com

Audio-described Performances and Touch Tours A chance for theatre-goers with visual impairments to experience ballet with the help of a professional

Audio Describer (free to matinee ticket holders; Touch Tours: 10.30am – pre-book through Birmingham Hippodrome; one guide per visually-impaired patron only).

Class on Stage Watch Company class and discover how a dancer starts their

day (times vary; £10; free to BRB Friends).

Audience Open Days Costumes to try, make-up demonstrations and much

more (12pm; free to matinee ticket holders).

Pre-performance Talks Free talks by members of the Company (6.30pm;

approx. 30 mins; free to evening ticket holders).

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Join BRB Friends today to enjoy priority booking: brb.org.uk/friends

FULL SUBSCRIPTIONBRB Friends & Renewals: 21 Feb, 11amPublic booking: 13 Mar, 11aml Make great savings on your bookingl Your seats reserved for next yearl No transaction charge l Direct Debit optionPurchase tickets for La Fille mal gardée, Beauty and the Beast, Hobson’s Choice, and both mixed programmes and save:l 15% – price band A+l 17% – price band Al 22% – price bands B–E

Choose from the following packages: Opening nights; midweek matinees; Thursday evenings; Friday evenings; Saturday matinees; or Saturday evenings

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