A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Published Monday 10 September 2007 at 10:15 by Kevin Berry

David Nixon has unpacked his magnificent train set again and his Northern Ballet Theatre dancers are having a wonderful time with it. Oh the pleasures of being an artistic director!

Nixon’s version of A Midsummer Nights Dream is set within a fictional ballet company and the company takes the sleeper train to Edinburgh. It is the late 1940s so the train is pulled by a steam engine. King’s Cross looks splendid, the dancers are stylishly attired and the train is an utter delight. When it chugs off there are sighs of admiration from the audience.

The story opens with a company ballet class. Witty gestures and clever slapstick define the relationships and there are moments of superb athleticism. Some characters do speak but what they say is awkward and unnecessary.

When the dreaming happens the ballet company characters take on their Shakespeare roles. The train is suspended upside down and there are beds waiting to be winched down. The two pairs of young lovers have blissfully entertaining quarrels. Keiko Amemori and Christie Duncan, as Hermia and Helena, take full advantage and Tobias Bradley, as Demetrius, is quite a revelation. The pas de deux for Hippolyta and Theseus, danced by Martha Leebolt and Martin Bell, are good but less inspired.

The final act is a celebration of love and marriage Agreeably toe- tapping but a little repetitive.

This is a welcome return for a very popular ballet. The train has been modified to suit more venues and is more flexible than before. It may yet win an award.