A new spin on an old tale is coming up at the Royal Theatre, as Ballet Victoria takes on Alice in Wonderland.
The local company, led by artistic director Paul Destrooper, dives down the rabbit hole for this latest production, which comes to the Royal Theatre on Friday, May 17 (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday, May 18 (2 p.m.) and mixes fantasy with physicality.
Black Press sat down with Destrooper on Monday afternoon for a sneak peak of the performance. He says heB次元官网网址檚 excited for the but nerves have been taking over, as the final performance is in less than two weeks and he has yet to figure out an ending.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes you have an idea and it doesnB次元官网网址檛 work B次元官网网址� we donB次元官网网址檛 have the luxury of spending a week in the theatre to tweak things so we have to come up with plan A, B, C and D,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭hat makes me nervous, it stresses me out.B次元官网网址�
Prior to production of the show Destropper read the classic novel to refresh his memory and says he canB次元官网网址檛 imagine any child enjoying the book.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a bunch of people talking at each other, getting offended, trying to outdo one another, showing theyB次元官网网址檙e smarter than the other but really have no idea what theyB次元官网网址檙e talking about,B次元官网网址� he laughs. B次元官网网址淪o they say what they know but they donB次元官网网址檛 know what theyB次元官网网址檙e sayingB次元官网网址�
Destrooper says the easily to offend characters are pretty similar to some of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 residents.
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His favourite character to work with during this production has been the Red Queen thanks to her out there personality.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 ridiculous and completely out of proportion to everything thatB次元官网网址檚 happening B次元官网网址� so with the choreography you can giver her wild steps that are kind of technically insane B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 kind of fun.B次元官网网址�
Principal dancer Andre Bayne stars as the lead character, who finds herself encountering strange and wonderful beings in her travels, with results that will leave you smiling and in admiration of the use of choreography to tell this family favourite story.
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Tickets for the shows are available online at or by phone at 250-386-6121.
If youB次元官网网址檇 like to have a sneak peek into the show, the Tea for Tutu program aimed at seniors and children happens May 7 and 8 at 2 p.m. at the St. AndrewB次元官网网址檚 Church Kirk Hall, 680 Courtney St. These 45-minute by-donation events feature dancer intros, a chat about the creation of the new work, a brief dance preview of the upcoming performance, and a chance to meet the dancers, along with enjoying donated tea and refreshments.
Space is limited; to reserve a spot, go online to call 250-380-6063 or send an email to attendance@balletvictoria.ca.
editor@mondaymag.com
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