Northern Ballet’s Dracula to be Aired on BBC Four
David Nixon OBE’s Dracula will be shown on BBC Four on Sunday 31 May and BBC iPlayer throughout June. After sell-out live performances and an live international cinema relay last October, this adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic will make its television debut at 10pm.
When theatres closed in March as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, Northern Ballet, along with the rest of the theatre industry, was severely impacted. They were obliged to cancel their spring tour after just one performance. But in response, the Company pledged to keep bringing world-class ballet to their audiences. And they did that by launching a new Pay As You Feel Digital Season. To date the season has been watched by over 200,000 people and attracted donations of over £20,000.
The Company is set to face a loss of over £1M in box office income due to COVID-19. This could impact their ability to continue to pay their workforce, many of whom are freelancers. It may also affect their ability to present new ballets. Whilst theatres remain dark, the Company aims to continue making their performances available online and on TV, encouraging audiences to donate when they watch, if they are able. Those who wish to support the Company can donate at the Northern Ballet website.
“Premier dancer”
Dracula was recorded at Leeds Playhouse on Halloween 2019 and streamed live to over 10,000 viewers in cinemas across Europe. Choreographed by David Nixon OBE, it stars Premier Dancer Javier Torres in the lead role.
Northern Ballet’s Pay As You Feel Digital Season also includes Amaury Lebrun’s For An Instant; Kenneth Tindall’s original dance film EGO, and Mariana Rodrigues’ Little Red Riding Hood. Highlights from Northern Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala and extended scenes from across their repertoire are there. Kenneth Tindall’s Geisha is a highlight.
Premièred in 2019, Amaury Lebrun’s For An Instant was part of Northern Ballet’s Three Short Ballets programme. It had just seven performances across Leeds and Doncaster. The full ballet created, by the award-winning contemporary dance maker with Northern Ballet’s versatile performers, is available to watch online until 7 June.
Highlights from their 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala, which was performed at Leeds Grand Theatre in January include scenes from Kenneth Tindall’s Casanova, with music by Kerry Muzzey. David Nixon OBE’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is in there too. More will be released from this one-night only spectacular which, alongside Northern Ballet, featured dancers from The Royal Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Scottish Ballet.
To find out more about Northern Ballet’s Pay As You Feel Digital Season, please visit northernballet.com/pay-as-you-
images: Emma Kauldhar
