Following Christopher Wheeldon’s colourful in-the-round restaging of Cinderella for performances at the Royal Albert Hall this summer, English National Ballet will be touring the proscenium arch version of this whimsical ballet to audiences in Manchester and Southampton in October.
Principal casting for the performances has been announced and sees Lead Principals Erina Takahashi and Joseph Caley, Principal Shiori Kase and Lead Principal Jeffrey Cirio, First Soloist Emma Hawes and Principal Francesco Gabriele Frola and First Soloists Alison McWhinney and Aitor Arrieta dance the roles of Cinderella and Prince Guillaume respectively. Shiori Kase, Alison McWhinney and Aitor Arrieta debut in these roles.
Also announced are those dancing the role of Benjamin, the prince’s friend: Jeffrey Cirio, First Soloist Ken Saruhashi, First Artist Barry Drummond, First Artist Henry Dowden and Guest Artist Brooklyn Mack. This will be a debut in the role for Henry Dowden and for Brooklyn Mack, who joins English National Ballet this season as Guest Artist. Born in South Carolina, USA, Brooklyn has danced with companies across the United States, including Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and first guested with English National Ballet in 2015.
Cinderella Principal Casting:
In the order of Cinderella, Prince Guillaume, Benjamin
Manchester
Thursday 17 October
Erina Takahashi, Joseph Caley, Jeffrey Cirio
Friday 18 October (matinee)
Emma Hawes, Francesco Gabriele Frola, Ken Saruhashi
Friday 18 October
Shiori Kase*, Jeffrey Cirio, Barry Drummond
Saturday 19 October (matinee)
Erina Takahashi, Joseph Caley, Brooklyn Mack*+
Saturday 19 October
Emma Hawes, Francesco Gabriele Frola, Ken Saruhashi
Southampton
Wednesday 23 October
Emma Hawes, Francesco Gabriele Frola, Ken Saruhashi
Thursday 24 October (matinee)
Alison McWhinney*, Aitor Arrieta*, Henry Dowden*
Thursday 24 October
Shiori Kase, Jeffrey Cirio, Barry Drummond
Friday 25 October
Erina Takahashi, Joseph Caley, Brooklyn Mack
Saturday 26 October (matinee)
Alison McWhinney, Aitor Arrieta, Henry Dowden
Saturday 26 October
Shiori Kase, Jeffrey Cirio, Barry Drummond
*Debut in the role with English National Ballet
+Guest Artist