The Northern Ballet took over the Theatre Royal last night for Nottingham’s opening performance of The Great Gatsby. The palatial theatre was packed out with an eclectic bunch in both ages and dress, with some looking like they had just woken up to others in pearl necklaces and dickie bows.
The live orchestra entertained the audience during the slight delay in starting, although the excited chatter almost drowned them out, then it was time, the lights dimmed and it dramatically began as the curtains parted and on to the stage the cast danced.
photo by Bill Cooper
As a novice of ballet I didn’t know what to expect however from the moment it began I was mesmerised by the way the dance told the story. Anyone apprehensive of the lack of dialogue shouldn’t be, admittedly some scenes are easier to follow than others, but it is a visual and aural masterpiece, even if you are a little lost at times.
The use of lighting and reflections helped tell the story and were a delight for the eyes, making the shifts between night & day obvious, as well as allowing you to understand when Gatsby was having flashbacks/reminiscing. The set changes were seamless; the costumes were beautiful and elegant, with not a tutu to be seen!
The choreography was fantastic, with impeccable timing and definitely not what you would traditionally expect. Although it was predominantly beautiful ballet, which evoked pure raw emotion; there was clearly a variety of influences including the Charleston, tap, ballroom and jazz, which made it very entertaining to watch. Some of it was even a little raunchy, with Daisy oozing sex appeal without a twerk in site.
The audience clearly loved it with even some premature clapulation on a few occasions, and a seemingly never-ending applause at the end with whooping and stomping. The production is running until Saturday 4th October with a few tickets still available from the theatres official website: http://www.trch.co.uk/ I would recommend that you try to get tickets in a circle so you can see the amazing orchestra perform throughout the show directed by the incredible John Pryce-Jones.
Review by Josie Opal
