2011-02-16: Romantic ballet back on stage

The South African Ballet Theatre is performing a winter season of the perfect romantic ballet, Romeo and Juliet, with a score by the composer Sergei Prokofiev. Expect tutus, tights and loads of passion.
ROMEO and Juliet is possibly the best-known love story of all time – even people who haven’t seen the play know the line, “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”

The audience can expect high drama and scintillating musicThe audience can expect high drama and scintillating musicWilliam Shakespeare’s play has been updated, adapted, modernised, made into movies and turned into a ballet, with music by the composer Sergei Prokofiev. And it is this classic ballet that the South African Ballet Theatre (SABT) is performing at the Mandela Theatre, from 27 May.

Last staged by the company in 2007, the tragic tale of the two young lovers separated by a passionate vendetta between their families, will unfold once more against the backdrop of Renaissance Italy. The grand vistas of the city of Verona will provide the setting.

The feuding families, Montague and Capulet, have been at loggerheads for as long as anyone can remember, described in the play as an “ancient grudge”. Romeo, a young Montague, risks life and limb by going to the Capulets’ house, so that he can be near their daughter, his beloved Juliet.

Directed by Iain MacDonald, the SABT performance is based on the original ballet production choreographed by Nicholas Beriosoff.

MacDonald says: “The South African Ballet Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet is the ultimate romantic ballet set to Prokofiev’s magnificent score. It’s exciting for me to see the younger stars of the company rising through the ranks and Romeo and Juliet is the perfect vehicle for them to explore the characters and choreography.

“Audiences can expect lots of drama, thrilling music, exciting duels, world-class ballet and lots of romance in this production.”

The show will be about two hours long with intervals; the exact duration is still being finalised. The season will end on 19 June.

The SABT and the Mandela Theatre are in the Joburg Theatre Complex, on Loveday Street in Braamfontein. For more information on this and other ballets, contact the SABT on 011 877 6898 or visit the website.