Cinderella, Birmingham Royal Ballet, London Coliseum

Celestial designs and tight storytelling make a fairytale night

by Ismene BrownTuesday, 29 March 2011

Twelve strikes: Elisha Willis's Cinderella at the climax of Act II of Bintley's new 'Cinderella'All photographs Bill Cooper/BRB

Birmingham is the fount of beauty and magic when it comes to ballet design. Covent Garden - forget it, too much money, too little taste. What illustrates that truism is the comparison that can be made between the Royal Ballet’s cartoony Cinderella production returning to WC2 next week and the magical visual experience that is John Macfarlane’s vision for Birmingham Royal Ballet’s new Cinderella, having its London premiere at the Coliseum this week.

It’s only live in the theatre that you can feel the cool air, smell the fear, taste the joy that Macfarlane has painted into this lovely fairytale

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Permalink Submitted by David (not verified) on Wed, 30/03/2011 - 08:53

I completely understand your poetic infatuation with the look of the show, Ismene - it was one of the loveliest fantasies I've ever seen as televised, can't wait to see it in the theatre.

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