Northern Ballet Theatre celebrates Christmas with its signature production of A Christmas Carol.
The company has, over time, developed its own ‘ballet theatre’ style and this year’s version is certainly true to form. The set is grand, with scattered props and an ever-changing central staging. The costumes are theatrical rather than traditional ballet and the company uses singing and dramatisation during the scenes.
NBT has a real confidence that exudes through energy and expressions which traditional ballets often keep strongly controlled.
Accomplished performer Darren Goldsmith takes on the lead role with shuffling comedy while still maintaining the grumpiness of the classic Scrooge character. Andrew Davidson plays the first of the ghostly visitations as a horrific and aggressive Marley. He is contrasted by the delicate lightness of Chiaki Nagao’s Ghost of Christmas Past. David Paul Kierce is energetic and playful as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Steven Wheeler as the final ghost provides a frightening and haunting creature helped by his impressive winged costume.
Credit also to Jonathan Byrne Ollivier and Desire Samaai as Young Scrooge and Belle who perform a passionate and emotive pas de deux.
Much of the comedy comes from Mark Biocca and Hannah Bateman’s Mr and Mrs Fezziwig and the company, together with children from the Woodman School of Dancing, convincingly provide the street scenes.
This is strong, accomplished ballet with a dramatic edge for a modern audience.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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