Young actors and dancers from Yorkshire have been given the chance to perform alongside professionals in a new ballet version of the classic fairytale Rapunzel.
The children, drawn from theatre and dance schools all over the region, will rehearse for four days over half term to prepare for two performances in Huddersfield on Friday and Saturday, February 20 and 21.
Based on the classic story, the ballet version, coming to the Lawrence Batley Theatre next week, is darker than many modern interpretations and closer to the Brothers Grimm original.
Rapunzel has scenarios written by Poet Laureate Carol Duffy and covers the ancient themes that run through the tale – a woman’s longing for a child, promises and deceit, jealousy, loyalty, loneliness, vengeance and redemption.
BalletLORENT’s artistic director Liv Lorent explained: “Most of us remember Rapunzel’s hair and the tower, but we’re a bit hazy on the rest of the story. It has been reinterpreted for children of today through Rapunzel versions like Disney’s Tangled: but we’re telling an older, slightly darker version, more akin to its Grimm tale origins. We’ve included a part of the story which is usually neglected and will be telling it through the eyes of different characters.”
Among the 12 young people appearing on stage and selected at auditions in November last year will be Nathaniel Ellis, seven, from Slaithwaite, who is a member of the Lawrence Batley Theatre’s Young Company, which runs Stage Door classes introducing children to the theatre.
His father Geoffrey, explained: “He has been going to the LBT on Saturday mornings for nearly two years now and really loves it. He had to audition for a part in Rapunzel. Children came from all over the area, as far as Hull, and they narrowed it down to 12. They start rehearsing on Monday morning and have four days of rehearsals. He doesn’t know what he’ll be doing yet but he’s looking forward to it.”
Rapunzel promises to be an atmospheric ballet for family audiences, with costume design by Emmy Award-winner Michele Clapton, who worked on Game of Thrones, and music by Dr Who composer Murray Gold.
Rapunzel can be seen on Friday at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday. Tickets are from £6 to £10 from 01484 430528 or www.thelbt.org.uk
