Scottish Ballet Returns to Newcastle with a Stunning Seasonal Spectacular
The ever-popular Scottish Ballet make a dazzling return to Newcastle Theatre Royal with a seasonal treat for the whole family following it 2019/20 sell-out tour.
The Snow Queen will be playing its only tour dates in England this year at the iconic Grey Street theatre on Wed 1 – Sat 4 Feb 2023.
Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s much-loved tale, which was also the basis for Disney’s hit film Frozen, Scottish Ballet’s The Snow Queen is a story of love and friendship that will delight audiences of all ages.
The action is driven by three central female characters: the brave young Gerda on a quest to rescue her true love, the enigmatic pickpocket Lexi at her side, and the powerful Snow Queen at the centre of it all.
This beautiful ballet takes place in several glittering, atmospheric locations, and will take audiences from the bustle of a winter’s market through the shivers of a fairytale forest on a journey to the icy realms of the Snow Queen’s palace where you will find her surrounded by the glittering fragments of an enchanted mirror.
The production will include a colourful cast of characters from young lovers parted by a spell to a circus ringmaster and his troupe to dancing snowflakes and, of course, the dazzling Snow Queen herself.
Set to the music of Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the specially adapted score will be performed live by the full Scottish Ballet Orchestra.
Choreographer Christopher Hampson (CEO/Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet) began making small changes to the show during the 2019 run, and three years on has continued to develop the narrative and choreography, which he believes enhances the tale and the experience for audiences.
He said: “Ballets are living, breathing art forms. Even the classics that we know so well, such as Swan Lake and Giselle, have adapted over the years, and The Snow Queen is no different. If people are coming back to see it and wondering if it’s going to be the same, then I’d say yes, but the storytelling and magical qualities have been augmented and deepened, so I think people might enjoy it even more.”
Marge Hendrick, Principal at Scottish Ballet, said: “Playing the Snow Queen is a very special role for me as I was promoted to Principal dancer after my first performance of it in 2019, alongside my dance partner Evan Loudon, who played Kai. The Snow Queen is quite a manipulative character, and Kai is mesmerised by her, slowly falling into her trap. But she also shows some humanity and it’s this complexity of her character that I find most interesting to portray. The choreography is beautiful but also extremely challenging and this year I’ll be dancing with a different partner, so I'm looking forward to building the relationship between Kai and the Snow Queen with him.”
The Snow Queen plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal Wed 1 - Sat 4 Feb 2023 playing evenings at 7.30pm and matinees Thu 2pm and Sat 2.30pm.Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or by calling 0191 232 7010.
