Birmingham Royal Ballet's Cinderella Dazzles at Sunderland Empire
This modern take on a traditional fairytale leaves you feeling the dreams that you wish really can come true
As the curtain rises the scene is sombre with silhouettes gathered around a gravestone, soon followed by a bleak, cold kitchen where Cinderella serves breakfast to her step-sisters.
The set design from John Macfarlane and lighting by David Finn conjure a feeling of great sadness for Cinderella which is reinforced by the fantastic choreography of David Bintley for the cruel step-sisters who are intent on making Cinderella as miserable as possible.
Eilis Small and Olivia Chang Clarke are brilliant as the sisters whose antics throughout the entire performance are humous and light-hearted, and met with muffled chuckles from the audience even when beating Cinders with a broom.
Beatrice Parma as Cinderella is simply mesmerising. From the barefoot start to bedazzling scenes with her prince, she rightly steals the show.
As the story moves on we’re treated to glorious waltzes, spectacular scenery and exquisite costumes, as well as the fun of frolicking lizards, mice and even a frog.
With Sergei Prokofiev’s music bringing us to the closing scene, smoke pours onto the stage and dozens of shimmering dancers line the floor en pointe as Cinderella and the Prince finish their final pas de deux. This for me is the most spectacular part of the evening with the closing curtain met by a standing ovation.
