English National Ballet will perform a new in-the-round version of multi-award-winning choreographer, Christopher Wheeldon’s, Cinderella, at the Royal Albert Hall from 6-16 June.
Co-produced by English National Ballet and the Royal Albert Hall, Wheeldon’s inventive production features over 90 dancers and combines magnificent sets and costumes, theatrical surprises, and lively choreography set to Prokofiev’s famous score performed by English National Ballet Philharmonic, in what promises to be the ballet spectacular of 2019. Wheeldon’s is re-staging his Cinderella for the company, bringing the immortal story to life on a grand scale.
Working from the darkly intriguing Brothers Grimm version of the story, Wheeldon originally created Cinderella to great acclaim for Dutch National Ballet and San Francisco Ballet: he and his creative team now reunite for the re-staging of this sparkling ballet. The production includes a set design by Julian Crouch – founder of the influential theatre company, Improbable – puppetry from Basil Twist (whose credits include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and projection from Daniel Brodie.
English National Ballet has presented grand-scale in-the-round productions at the Royal Albert Hall since 1997, including Swan Lake – with its record-breaking 60 swans – and re-workings of Romeo & Juliet and Sleeping Beauty.
Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the English dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, English National Ballet has played a major role in the growth and history of ballet in the UK. Today, the company is renowned for taking world-class ballet to the widest possible audience through its national and international tour programme, offsite performances at festivals including Glastonbury and Latitude, its distinguished orchestra English National Ballet Philharmonic, and being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice and delivery, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s.