Hope’s Insights on The Winter's Tale
Our Artistic Director Shares Her Thoughts
I’m delighted you’ll be joining us for The Winter’s Tale, a production that celebrates ballet’s enduring ability to bring Shakespeare’s timeless stories to life. Created by three of the world’s most acclaimed artists, choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, composer Joby Talbot and designer Bob Crowley, The Winter’s Tale has become a cornerstone of our repertoire and a defining example of contemporary storytelling through dance.
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Former First Soloist Hannah Fischer and Former Principal Dancer Piotr Stanczyk in The Winter's Tale. Photo by Aleksandar Antonijevic.
The Story
Based on Shakespeare’s late play, the ballet begins in the stark kingdom of Sicilia, where King Leontes’ unfounded jealousy shatters his family and friendship with Polixenes, King of Bohemia. The tragedy that follows leads to the death of a child and the apparent loss of Leontes’ wife, Hermione, and their newborn daughter, Perdita. Yet the story turns toward reconciliation, hope and renewal, blending tragedy, romance and comedy in equal measure.
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Former First Soloist Hannah Fischer with Artists of the Ballet in The Winter's Tale. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
The Design
Bob Crowley designed The Winter’s Tale with the two distinct kingdoms of Sicilia and Bohemia in mind. Sicilia, the setting for Leontes’ destructive jealousy, is austere and grey, while pastoral Bohemia bursts with colour and vitality as young Perdita comes of age on its shores. Standout design elements include an enormous wishing tree and the luminous silk effect created by puppeteer Basil Twist to evoke Shakespeare’s famous stage direction: “Exit, pursued by a bear.”
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Artists of the Ballet in The Winter's Tale. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
The Score
Joby Talbot’s original score captures the story’s shifting moods and mystery with the help of an eclectic banda, five musicians who accompany the orchestra from the stage. Using instruments such as the bansuri, hammered dulcimer and accordion, the banda perform a world fusion style that deliberately resists cultural definition. The Winter's Tale received two Benois de la Danse Awards in 2015 including Best Score.
Thank you so much for being part of this experience and enjoy the performance!
Warmly,
Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director
Top Photo: Hope Muir. Photo by Ted Belton.