After a gruelling run in Hamlet it’s a welcome relief for Northern Ballet’s company to don spectacular costumes for a world premiere of Beauty and the Beast.
According to Georgina May, who dances as Beauty’s sister Cantelle, rehearsals are going well for a Christmas spectacular that boasts a mirrored castle, and Amy Winehouse inspired costumes.
“The dress runs in the studio are going well and we’ve just tried the costumes on to make sure there are no big problems, so I think everyone is really excited,” says Georgina.
“The costumes are incredible, they really are, and I’m so lucky my first costume is just beautiful. It’s not the sort of thing you could wear out because it is so big, lavish and amazing, and it is great at times on stage to get lost in that sort of thing.”
But it’s not all fluff as Northern are always idiosyncratic, and this world first directed by David Nixon tackles modern issues like debt, consumerism and vanity.
“The first act starts off in the castle with the Prince who is very, very vain. He keeps looking in the mirror and he has his beautiful friends round and he’s obsessed with himself and the way he looks. Then the fairies come on and turn into a beast because of his vanity.
“They give him the get out clause where if you find somebody to love you then you will turn back into yourself. So then it goes into Beauty’s home and with her father and her sisters who are really big characters.
“They are obsessed with shopping and spend way too much money and love going to Harrods and Selfridges and have amazing costumes and dresses.
“Then the debt collectors come and take everything away and we end up in the forest in our underwear before their father comes across Beast and Beauty goes to his castle.
But we’re quickly back into the traditional love story for acts two and three.
“Act two is the Beast and Beauty becoming acquainted with each other as she is quite scared of him because he is a beast. He thinks she is beautiful but she doesn’t want him to touch her.
“Act three is more of a love story where she starts to fall in love with him, and there is some sweet bits where they go through all the seasons when he take an umbrella for Beauty or sets roses out for her so she falls in love with him eventually.”
After the sharp movements and the relentless darkness of Hamlet set in Nazi occupied Paris, what can local ballet fans expect?
“The show is quite classical with a very heavy story behind it and all the girls are on point. But It is Christmas and such a feel good ballet with the most wonderful happy ending.
“The costumes are lavish, the sets are amazing and it is just going to be a huge production.”
Beauty & the Beast, Leeds Grand Theatre until Sat 31 December. Box Office: 0844 848 2701, book Online: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com. Tickets: £10 – £39.50, Family tickets £100 (max 2 adults)
After a gruelling run in Hamlet it’s a welcome relief for Northern Ballet’s company to don spectacular costumes for a world premiere of Beauty and the Beast.
According to Georgina May, who dances as Beauty’s sister Cantelle, rehearsals are going well for a Christmas spectacular that boasts a mirrored castle, and Amy Winehouse inspired costumes.
“The dress runs in the studio are going well and we’ve just tried the costumes on to make sure there are no big problems, so I think everyone is really excited,” says Georgina.
“The costumes are incredible, they really are, and I’m so lucky my first costume is just beautiful. It’s not the sort of thing you could wear out because it is so big, lavish and amazing, and it is great at times on stage to get lost in that sort of thing.”
But it’s not all fluff as Northern are always idiosyncratic, and this world first directed by David Nixon tackles modern issues like debt, consumerism and vanity.
“The first act starts off in the castle with the Prince who is very, very vain. He keeps looking in the mirror and he has his beautiful friends round and he’s obsessed with himself and the way he looks. Then the fairies come on and turn into a beast because of his vanity.
“They give him the get out clause where if you find somebody to love you then you will turn back into yourself. So then it goes into Beauty’s home and with her father and her sisters who are really big characters.
“They are obsessed with shopping and spend way too much money and love going to Harrods and Selfridges and have amazing costumes and dresses.
“Then the debt collectors come and take everything away and we end up in the forest in our underwear before their father comes across Beast and Beauty goes to his castle.
But we’re quickly back into the traditional love story for acts two and three.
“Act two is the Beast and Beauty becoming acquainted with each other as she is quite scared of him because he is a beast. He thinks she is beautiful but she doesn’t want him to touch her.
“Act three is more of a love story where she starts to fall in love with him, and there is some sweet bits where they go through all the seasons when he take an umbrella for Beauty or sets roses out for her so she falls in love with him eventually.”
After the sharp movements and the relentless darkness of Hamlet set in Nazi occupied Paris, what can local ballet fans expect?
“The show is quite classical with a very heavy story behind it and all the girls are on point. But It is Christmas and such a feel good ballet with the most wonderful happy ending.
“The costumes are lavish, the sets are amazing and it is just going to be a huge production.”
Beauty & the Beast, Leeds Grand Theatre until Sat 31 December. Box Office: 0844 848 2701, book Online: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com. Tickets: £10 – £39.50, Family tickets £100 (max 2 adults)