Theatregoers will be buoyed by timeless performances of the well-known ultimate fairy-tale of Cinderella, which is billed for eight performances only on the Joburg Theatre stage. Pencilled to run from Friday, 30 September to Sunday, 9 October, Joburg Ballet’s scintillating production of Cinderella will waltz across the stage with Johann Strauss’s immortal melodies providing the perfect musical setting for this ultimate rags-to-riches tale.
Choreographed by Joburg Ballet’s artistic director Iain MacDonald, Cinderella will feature designer Andrew Botha’s breath-taking designs, which frame the action, while Joburg Ballet’s stars set the stage alight with dancing in the grandly classical tradition.
Although the annual showpiece premiered on the Joburg Theatre stage in 2013, the production went into a two-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 lockdown. This year’s performance will be the first since lockdown restrictions were abolished.
“Cinderella will be our first production since the start of the Covid pandemic where, from the outset, we can sell 100% of the Joburg Theatre seats,” says Esther Nasser, Joburg Ballet’s CEO.”Hopefully, Cinderella will see audiences returning to the ballet in droves, and certainly, there can be no more perfect ballet to welcome in summer than Cinderella,” Nasser adds.
The Joburg Ballet’s Cinderella is a magical, melodic story of a commoner falling in love with a prince. Against all odds, Cinderella ends up becoming a princess. The theatrical production tells the classic age-old tale through various stage designs. Since the dawn of this project, Joburg-born Macdonald has been the visionary behind the melodic ballet tale. He says spectators should expect a “breath-taking design frame” by Andrew Botha. This is where the stars of the production will see the stage “alight with dancing in the grandly classical tradition”.
He says Cinderella has always been one of Joburg Ballet’s most popular productions, both in its original version and in the current production. Cinderella will be played by Shannon Glover, Nicole Ferreira-Dill, Monike Cristina, and Tammy Higgins. The prince will be portrayed by Revil Yon, Armando Barros, Ruan Galdino and Ivan Domiciano. These two leading role artists will bring the “rags-to-riches fairy-tale” alive, says Nasser. The artistic dancers will perform for four days, with each pair dancing as scheduled below:
• Nicole Ferreira-Dill and Armando Barros: Friday, 30 September at 6:30pm and Saturday, 8 October at 3pm.
• Monike Cristina and Ruan Galdino: Saturday, 1 October at 3pm and Wednesday, 5 October at 11am.
• Shannon Glover and Revil Yon: Sunday, 2 October at 3pm, Friday, 7 October at 6:30pm and on Sunday, 9 October at 3pm.
• Tammy Higgins and Ivan Domiciano perform on Saturday, 8 October at 6:30pm.
The tale of Cinderella would not be complete without the antagonists who terrorise her life and threaten the fate of the commoner who becomes a princess. Christopher Montague and Nigel Hannah will portray the character roles of Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters, and Alison Sischy will play her stepmother.
The Jester will be danced by Tumelo Lekana, Ivan Domiciano, Mario Gaglione, and Luhle Mtati, while the Fairy Godmother will be performed by Savannah Ireland, Nicole Ferreira-Dill, and Darragh Hourrides.
Tickets for Joburg Ballet’s Cinderella range from R200 to R475 except for the Wednesday, 5 October performance in which tickets will cost patrons R100 each. Friends of the Ballet qualify for a 35% discount, with pensioners receiving 15%; group bookings of 10+ people will get a 10% discount, while children aged between 4 and 7 qualify for a 50% discount.
Spectators can book their seats at the Joburg Theatre Box Office or by telephone: 0861 670 670. Alternatively, online bookings can be made at www.joburgtheatre.com or through www.webtickets.co.za
Patrons are not required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test when attending performances. The wearing of masks is optional.
Written by Dakalo Ramudidibi
08/09/2022