Theatre and Dance Reviews

The Northern Ballet Theatre are known for successfully combining classical dance and modern theatre. This production was the first one that I ever saw them do and firmly established me as a fan of the company. I thought it gave fantastic new life to A Midsummer Night’s Dream then, and now it's back in the repertoire, apart from a couple of awkward set moments, it's just as good as I remember.

This classic Shakespearean comedy is always an audience favourite but in this production the company’s Artistic Director David Nixon has transported the quarrelling lovers and feuding fairies into a unique setting and one which the company will be all too familiar with. The characters are now all part of a touring dance company and the shenanigans that are usually played out in a forest all take place on a sleeper train between London and Edinburgh as the dancers travel to their next show.

Twilight world

The company's final rehearsal has been a disaster and as they get on the train, the arguments continue. As the train speeds north it enters a tunnel, tension grows and the company find themselves in a strange nocturnal world where they have to resolve their disputes.

But this scenario really works for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Not only do the characters translate well into this new setting - Theseus becomes the Artistic Director, Hippolyta his prima ballerina who he wants to retire, while the four lovers are competitive soloists - but the idea of hierarchy and battles of ego could relate to any working situation. It therefore shows a modern understanding of some of the themes and shows once again how Shakespeare really understood human nature.

Mixing comedy with dance, this company eloquently portray the romantic entanglements of the lead characters.

Inventive

The comic fighting between Lysander (Kenneth Tindall) and Hermia (Georgina May) and Helena (Christie Duncan) and Demetrius (Tobias Batley) as they each fail to win the object of their desire is intricate, physical, clever and extremely funny. It was highly inventive and kept the audience enthralled and laughing! And I have to say, that the men's skimpy boxer shorts that made such an impression on me the first time thankfully remained, and once again I was amazed that they didn't spilt - it was real edge of the seat stuff I can tell you! Hurrah for the wardrobe department!

Hironao Takahashi is a powerful Theseus and once again, the impossibly graceful and delicate Keiko Amemori made me feel like a lumbering bison in comparison.

Then there’s also the fact that it looks fantastic. Set in the late 1940s, the glamorous costumes designed by director David Nixon reflect Dior’s post-war New Look, and range from the stylish black and white of the rehearsal room to a riot of colour in the ‘dream’ sequence.

Stylish

But for anyone with even a passing interest in stage design and the machinations of the set, Duncan Haylor’s creation is very clever. It’s a real joy just to see the rehearsal room turn into the train and then the train move off the platform! But I am sure that the inside of the train was more stable last time. The trucks on which the carriages were placed for this latest production seemed a little rickety and the dancers sometimes looked like they were struggling with the concept of moving them around.

The only other thing that didn’t sit well with me was the couple of points where the cast spoke lines. Their body language was been more than enough so there really seemed no need for it.

But this is merely nit-picking. David Nixon and his talented cast have done a superb job once again. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is witty, vivacious, stylish and a lot of fun!