Review: Cinderella ballet at Lowry - “a refreshing respite from outside noise"

Helen Clarke

Credit: Johan Persson

This week marked the arrival of Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of Cinderella at Lowry, Salford.

Running from 6th March to 8th March (inclusive) - this performance is a light-hearted and skill-fully created spectacle for lovers of the art as well as a spectacular introduction for novices.

The costume design by artist John Macfarlane alongside scenery construction by Royal Opera House Production Department invites you to step into the magical realism of an evening's refreshing respite from outside noise.

Sergei Prokofiev’s musical score is the perfect compliment to the most delicate and whimsical of moments on stage.

Retelling the classic story of Cinderella with very little distinction from the original, this performance offers one additional element to the fairytale - the value placed on dance as a commodity.

Credit: Johan Persson

Cinderella, the two sisters, and indeed most of the men and women in the production must dance to earn their place alongside the prince - an interesting layer to a story so traditionally based on beauty vs 'ugly', Cinderella vs stepsisters.

Here, dance (and a little bit of sparkle) is enough to lift one out of a meek existence and into a life of royalty, carriages, overconsumption, and happiness.

With attempts made by the two sisters' characters to inject humour throughout, the production tries to deliver the popular children's story with a dash of originality - something difficult to achieve with such a well-loved tale.

The choreography of the flight of dancers performing in-sync to a live orchestra connected to them only through sound, while simultaneously severed by lack of sight due to their placement under the stage, is quite remarkable.

Credit: Johan Persson

Whether a ballet aficionado or a complete beginner, there is no long and winding road to journey down in order to un-pick the story here, nor are there any prerequisites needed to enjoy the performance.

There is no knowledge or experience required, simply the ability to engage the senses and observe.

For those arriving with expectations, the performance is so quintessential that the most accurate way one can describe what you are about to witness is to say, what do you see when you close your eyes and hear the word 'ballet.'