About the Performance
Scenes de Ballet
Frederick Ashton's Scènes de Ballet is a direct response to the elegant sophistication of Stravinsky's score. It was Ashton's favourite of his own works, and together with his Cinderella and Symphonic Variations formed the bedrock of what was to become the 'English style'. Steeped in the language of classical ballet, the work's striking designs feature crisp tutus, black velvet berets and pearl chokers which echo the Broadway chic of the late 1940s.
Work Within Work
Created by William Forsythe, former director of Frankfurt Ballet, workwithinwork unites the dancers' classical discipline and experimental playfulness using Berio's haunting Duetti for two violins. The resulting displays of dance virtuosity shimmer in and out of the shadows on the beautifully lit Playhouse stage.
Petrushka
The tragic story of a Russian puppet brought to life by a wizard's enchanted flute is given a twenty-first century twist by Australian-British choreographer and director, Ian Spink and Greek born designer Yannis Thavoris.
Spink has a real knack of breathing new life into classic stories, putting his own fresh slant onto some of the most well-established works. He most recently directed Private Lives for The Citizens Theatre, L'enfant et les Sortileges and L'heure Epagnole for Opera Zuid, Maastricht and choreographed A Tragedy of Fashion for Rambert Dance Company. Festival audiences now have the chance to enjoy his creative take on the tale of Petrushka, choreographed for Scottish Ballet.
