(AD – PRESS NIGHT) NORTHERN BALLET’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL REVIEW
TUESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 2024 @ 7.30PM
HULL NEW THEATRE
*** 3/5
It’s been a while since I attended a local press night after a couple of months of family stuff. However, I’ve been intrigued by this ballet ever since I saw the announcement that it was coming to Hull. Whilst I love a traditional ballet, I’m all about new productions too. Here’s my Northern Ballet’s A Christmas Carol review.
PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS
I’ve seen a lot of ballets in my 31 years on the planet, from classics to brand new shows. I love seeing a different company’s take on something too and I know Northern Ballet are a very reputable company. I’ve previously seen their version of The Nutcracker.
I’m hoping that this review won’t contain any spoilers as most people should know the story of A Christmas Carol. In fact, the Muppets’ Christmas Carol is in my top five movies of all-time list so I was secretly hoping for a cameo from Gonzo as the narrator or maybe even Michael Caine (obviously, I’m joking).
THE CAST
The cast is led by Jonathan Hanks as Ebenezer Scrooge. He really embodied his character, it was just a shame that we didn’t get to see him dance until the very end. When he did, he had a beautiful stage presence.
Harris Beattie as Bob Cratchit also gave a phenomenal performance. I loved his blend of power and grace and his acting was a beautiful portrayal.
The three ghosts of Past (Saeka Shirai), Present (Joseph Taylor) and Future (Andrew Tomlinson) all gave immaculate performances. Tomlinson was terrifying in his costume too!
My favourite moment was the pas de deux between past Scrooge and his ex-fiancee, Belle. I’m unsure of the performers but they had such a gorgeous chemistry.
I loved the entire cast; the entire ensemble switched characters seamlessly. It’s impossible to pinpoint any one of them as they all did a stellar job. Northern Ballet’s done a good job with diversity too but there’s always room for improvement.
THE PRODUCTION
Some parts of the production were spectacular. Of course, the costuming was exceptional. It was a fairly large cast, with multiple changes each, and the detailing on each costume was out of the world.
I was also incredibly impressed by the lighting design. Often, lighting in ballet is very simple but I enjoyed the use of fading the back of the stage to reset the production whilst something was happening towards the front. The use of backdrops and screens was also inspired throughout.
Now to the less favourable parts. Whilst I did enjoy the choreography, there just wasn’t a lot of it. I loved the blend of traditional ballet and contemporary movement but there was a lot of times when the characters weren’t dancing. For a ballet, there wasn’t a great deal of dance.
Additionally, I was incredibly disappointed by the lack of an orchestra. Personally, I think it’s vital for a ballet to have a live orchestra. Maybe some musicals can get away with it but for me, it adds to the grandeur of a ballet. I know Northern Ballet is cutting back on certain elements but the orchestra shouldn’t be one of them. Streamlining or downsizing is fine but not eradicating them completely!
I was also a little confused by the use of singing in the production. Sometimes, it was a backing track, other times, it was the cast themselves. I’m not sure why I wasn’t a fan but it’s probably because I’m not used to lyrics being used in a ballet!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Northern Ballet’s A Christmas Carol hit many of the right spots: costuming, casting, technique, and set design. Yet it fell short in other areas: music, and choreography. I think with some improvements, it could be a spectacular show but for me, it felt like some areas were low-budget compared to others. An enjoyable night nevertheless but not the best ballet I’ve ever seen.
If you’re intrigued by my Northern Ballet’s A Christmas Carol review, you can catch it on tour until January. Don’t forget to read my other theatre reviews right here. Follow me on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok too!
