A Christmas Carol was one of the biggest hits of Christopher Gable’s time as artistic director of Northern Ballet Theatre. With designs by Lez Brotherston and choreography by Massimo Morricone, it re-told the well-known Charles Dickens story in graphic, colourful style, and the score by Carl Davis had the dancers singing a whole series of traditional carols while dancing to them, throwing “snowballs”, running up an icy slide and more.
From its first showing in 1992, the ballet had audiences and performers alike in love with its distillation of the Christmas spirit, and it broke box office records almost everywhere it went.
The company’s new boss, Federico Bonelli, has already brought Gable’s Romeo and Juliet back into repertoire: “Alongside exploring new stories that connect, I am passionate about preserving the heritage of Northern Ballet. This signature piece from the era of Christopher Gable was a landmark moment in the company’s history and continues to be beloved by our audiences, which is why I’m so excited to return it to the stage this winter.
“Charles Dickens’ classic tale of redemption, with its message of human kindness and compassion, is something that resonates with us all, especially at this time of year. Its iconic characters lend themselves so well to ballet, and I look forward to seeing audiences of all ages enjoying the show with us.”
Sadly the ballet will be performed to recorded music rather than a live orchestra – a move forced by grant cuts; but these days Matthew Bourne’s and many other companies’ work is performed to recordings.
Massimo Morricone has revisited the company to supervise rehearsals of his work, with Northern Ballet’s own Daniel de Andrade and Pippa Moore, who danced in it in the past, helping bring it back to life. And the original best-known dancer as Scrooge, Jeremy Kerridge, has been brought in to advise today’s performers on the leading role (see rehearsal picture).
One of the new dancers as Scrooge, Jonathan Hanks, says his favourite scene in the work is at the end, where the transformed Scrooge is getting dressed ready to join in the final “parade of plenty”. It’s one that Kerridge fans will remember, too, as he virtuosically hopped and skipped around the stage while tugging his trousers on. “It’s the only time in the ballet where I can really be happy and express my joy and love for dance and communicating happiness to the audience,” says Hanks. “And it’s ending everything on an optimistic note.”
The revival opens at Sheffield Lyceum (November 7-9), before heading to Hull New Theatre (November 12-16), then Nottingham, before ending with a three-week Christmas run at Leeds Grand Theatre (December 17-January 4).
More info and tickets here