Is my wife’s birthday coming up and she’d like to go but I’ve no idea where to start!
We’re in sheffield

Not into it (like you) but my wife also wanted to go. I booked up a hotel, meal and tickets for Swan Lake a few years ago. She seemed to enjoy it.

I think the effect is caused by stuffing socks in their tights

MrsT is a big fan of Mathew Bourne’s ballets. Might be worth a look.

Pook – search for Mark Bruce Company who are going to tour Dracula again. I saw them last year at Wilton’s Music Hall in London and it completely blew me away.

http://www.markbrucecompany.com/current/

[video]http://vimeo.com/66815560[/video]

Yes, it’s dance so it helps if you know the story as such – build up to going to see it by listening to the Dracula audiobook on Spotify – read by none other than Christopher Lee…

Rachel

Enlish national ballet’s swan lake coming to Manchester in October. Can you wait?

DVD of the (dark) Black Swan to keep her going/put her off in the meantime!!

May not be relevant, but I really enjoy the chance to see Nederlands Dans Teater. They are based in Holland (obviously) but sometimes tour the UK. I am not a culture vulture, and know nothing about ballet, opera or any of that stuff, but I just like watching.

I dated a Portuguese ballerina for 6 weeks many years ago…….that was a memorable period! FIT.

Did you need a day off?

I saw the Scottish Ballet’s production Hansel & Gretel recently & my partner seemed to enjoy it, I thought it a bit meh. Not a bad evening per se, but not an evening I felt the need to tell everyone about.

We sat right down on the front row, looking into the orchestra pit. tbh I enjoyed that view far more. Turns out it’s quite interesting watching an orchestra do their thing…

Have been to a few – the only one we didn’t really enjoy was when we went to London to see a proper fancy-pants one. All the rest, mostly in Birmingham, one in Oxford, have been really good. Don’t go there with a “I’m going to hate this” head on, though. 🙂

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSJVEb-qljA[/video]

Look at the listings in the local concert halls to see what’s available. Usually a few choices over the hill in Manchester.

I think it’s great. Fantastic music (which is enough for me) and amazing strength/athleticism required for the dancing for that added visual element.

The Nutcracker is usually on in Manchester around Christmas time. Seen it twice; it’s fantastic.

Northern Ballet are touring Cinderella later in the year, and they appear to be performing in Sheffield:
http://northernballet.com/?q=media-releases/epic-35-venue-tour-2014

Here’s my advice. Go on a busy night. That way when you get up to go for a wee after five minutes, you struggle to get back to your seat and have to sit at the back for the rest of the show where you accidentally fall asleep.

Worst 3 hours of my life. And I’ve had kidney colic.