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Alison Brinkworth's viewTHERE were some memorable, outstanding
productions with this theme from the Welsh National Opera, Birmingham
Royal Ballet, and of course the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in
Stratford-upon-Avon, which are reflected in my honours for this year’s
Behind The Arras theatre awards. Best Play - Don Quixote The epic adventure was brought to the Swan
Theatre by director Angus Jackson, who was also behind the acclaimed
Oppenheimer for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). This exciting and
very funny production for the RSC brought together Rufus Hound as Sancho
Panza and Shameless’ David Threlfall as Don Quixote. It’s forte was the
ability to balance humour with touching sentimentality. Best Big-Budget Musical – Mary Poppins There have been some showstoppers this year
including Mamma Mia!, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors and Chitty Chitty
Bang Bang but the musical that clinches the title for me is the slick
production of Mary Poppins that was at Birmingham Hippodrome during
March and April. Practically perfect in every way, it had memorable
dance routines, sensational sets and costumes and still had the ability
to make you gasp with surprise and enjoyment. Added to that
Surprise Show Of The Year – Jackie The Musical This fun show ended up being the surprise
feel-good musical of the year as it toured the UK stopping off at
Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre and Malvern Theatres. Well known TV
faces of Janet Dibley (The Two of Us) and Nicholas Bailey (EastEnders)
led a nostalgic zany tale about a woman having a mid-life crisis that
resorts to her old copies of girls magazine Jackie. With a 1970’s
soundtrack, Jackie The Musical was witty, vibrant and refreshing.
Best Opera – Mandela Trilogy Cape Town Opera returned to Birmingham Hippodrome
with this epic production retelling the life of Nelson Mandela through
modern opera, jazz, swing and Xhosa folk music over three acts. It was
soulful as well as atmospheric, bringing to life the colours, emotion
and sounds of an apartheid-hit South Africa. An exceptional piece of
work. Best Dance Production – Joint winners Alvin Ailey
American Dance Theater and COAL Birmingham is attracting the cream of dance to
its theatres and dance fans were spoiled for choice this year. That’s
why there are two winners for this category – one international and the
other home-grown. New York’s famed Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theater toured to Birmingham Hippodrome and mesmerised with its
distinctive, world-famous choreography in seminal works like
Revelations. It felt a privilege to see such fine dancing from a company
that dates back to the 1960’s but is constantly updating its repertoire
with modern work. Meanwhile, COAL from
the Gary Clarke Company was a production for DanceXchange in the Patrick
Centre that was an emotive and gritty piece of modern dance that
coincided with the 30th
anniversary of the miners’ strikes. Choreographer Gary Clarke grew up
near the Yorkshire coalfields and used this personal experience to show
the strong bonds of friendship and loyalty above ground along with the
gruelling life below in the pits. There was also the best dancing Maggie
Thatcher you are ever likely to see. Best Dance Show For Children – The Wolf and Peter Innovative and exciting, the Coisceim Dance
Theatre brought its dance production of The Wolf and Peter to
Birmingham’s DanceXchange base in The Patrick Centre in December. The
show used the enchanting music of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf while
retelling the story from the wolf’s perspective. Totally enchanting and
child-friendly with a host of animal characters, this was a must-see
production. Best Shakespeare Production – Joint winners - RSC’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and BRB’s Taming of the Shrew |
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was
a truly impressive cast including Zizi Strallen who was the embodiment
of the magical nanny.