The Tempest
Birmingham Royal Ballet: Mathias Dingman and Ariel; photo: Bill Cooper
MUSIC SALLY BEAMISH
DESIGNS RAE SMITH
LIGHTING BRUNO POET
One of my pieces which I feel will only improve over time, I continued to work on The Tempest from it’s premiere and throughout its first series of performances around the UK, with further revisions taking place during its US premier in Houston. And I guess I’m still not through with it!
The ballet has a marvellous score by Sally Beamish, however, with whom I had a great collaboration. The production was perhaps overly ambitious in its use of flying sequences and puppetry, and choreographically I took my eye off the ball at times too.
Even the period of its creation was a difficult one for the company, with financial and managerial problems on the horizon, and this added to the pressure for ‘success’ that is never conducive to creativity. Nonetheless, I have a strong belief that The Tempest could blow again!
'The opening sea storm is a marvel of theatrical ingenuity'
THE GUARDIAN
'The best ballet narratives contain a simple story underpinned by a big idea, and The Tempest… offers both.'
THE FINANCIAL TIMES
‘Rae Smith makes the island a place of melting illusion… a constant box of delights’
THE SUNDAY TIMES