Review - Cinderella at the Birmingham Hippodrome - The Solihull Observer

Review - Cinderella at the Birmingham Hippodrome

Solihull Editorial 16th Feb, 2017   0

CINDERELLA is one of the ultimate love stories, and told through ballet is an even more magical experience.

Instead of the mainstream presentation of the fairytale classic, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s version, beautifully choreographed by company director David Bintley, offers a fresh insight.

Whole families turned out at the Hippodrome’s opening night to enjoy the show, which was accompanied by Sergei Prokofiev’s enchanting score.

The production opens to a heart-wrenching scene showing Cinderella – beautifully portrayed by Momoko Hirata – and her father mourning the death of her mother.




The scene is quickly set with wicked stepmother Marion Tait and stars of the show, ugly sisters Skinny and Dumpy – played by Samara Downs and Laura Purkiss respectively – showing Cinderella no love and expecting her to cook and clean. She keeps her prized possession, a pair of dancing slippers, secret from her family. But when she discovers a poor old lady shivering with cold in the cellar she bestows the slippers upon her.

The old woman – danced by Yvette Knight – turns into a fairy godmother and allows Cinderella until the stroke of midnight to go to the ball where she meets Prince Charming, Joseph Caley.


The duo dance beautifully together, with the stunning sets, costumes, lights and music only enhancing the romance.

The audience – including myself – loved the performances by those dancing as the mice and frogs, with them getting easily the biggest ovation of the night.

The band were faultless in their performance, and with the equally perfect dancers never putting an en pointe toe out of place.

The fairytale ends how it always should, with the united couple declaring their love.

The Birmingham Royal Ballet’s version of Cinderella is one for all the family, which should not be missed.

The show runs until Saturday February 25. Visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com to book.

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