Preview Dangerous Liaisons
A ballet of depravity, cruelty and deceit from David Nixon at the WYP on 7th-11th September
Preview: Dangerous Liaisons
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Northern Ballet Theatre‘s artistic director, David Nixon, returns to the West Yorkshire Playhouse with his stage adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons between Tuesday 7th and Saturday 11th September. The ballet is based on the classic novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, and will take inspiration from the 1988 film of the same name, staring Glenn Close, John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Dangerous Liaisons tells the story of 18th century France, where two manipulative aristocrats form a cruel and cunning pact. Marquise de Merteuil and her accomplice and ex-lover, Vicomte de Valmont, make a deal to spoil the innocence of bride to be, Cecile Volange. The aristocrats contrive to pray upon their victim during a series of compelling duets, set to music by Antonio Vivaldi. In the climactic scenes that follow, twisted games are played, reputations are shattered and love is tragically lost.
Through the use of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as an accompaniment to the ballet, the frenzied plot is suitably paralleled for the compositions possess the same turbulence, pleasantry and fun that will be played out by the dancers.
David Nixon has been the artistic director of Northern Ballet since 2001, contributing exceptional productions such as Wuthering Heights, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Three Musketeers and Hamlet. In discussing Dangerous Liaisons, Nixon comments: “I was first struck by the number of main dramatic roles in the piece compared with most stories, and the fact that a story about sensuality in the written word, could be captured in movement.”
Following his restaging of the critically acclaimed Dracula last autumn, Nixon is welcomed back to the Playhouse. This passionate tale of destruction is certainly not to be missed, as Nixon presents one of his most compelling productions to date.
7-11 September, West Yorkshire Playhouse, 7.30pm (2.30pm matinee Thurs & 2pm matinee Sat), £18-28
Posted on Wednesday 18th August 2010
Nikki Barr
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UP
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