Snow White – balletLORENT at Oxford Playhouse 8th April 2016 – Susannah Harris-Wilson reviews

There are many estimable things about balletLORENT and its goals: a company committed to training young people, even children, in the art of theatre and dance movement; a company of dedicated actors/dancers, some of whom have been members for ten or more years; innovative in commissioning work from other fields within the arts – poets and actors and musicians; able to appreciate the on-going relevance of literary works like fairy tales and the eternal commentary they make on our human condition. These are reasons to admire the company and their undertaking to express through dance what is very often verbally inexpressible.

Till recent film versions, the story of Snow White has found little new expression in art forms since Walt Disney’s 1950s animation. This is a pity. A musical, opera, or ballet would do well to pick up this tale and explore its themes – particularly the knotty relationship that exists between a mother and her daughter or between any older woman and a young woman who is outstripping her with youthful energies, promise, attractiveness. There is also the problem of privilege enjoyed by some women until it becomes exploitative when power is added to that privilege. As with all fairy tales, there are innumerable themes woven together under the delightful magic of storytelling.

 

balletLORENT in Snow White at Oxford Playhouse, 8th-9th April 2016

Oxford Playhouse welcomes balletLORENT’s dance theatre adaptation of the well-loved Brother’s Grimm fairytale Snow White.  Known for their fantastical and visually stunning productions, leading UK dance company balletLORENT present this new work charged with emotion through haunting music and exquisite storytelling.  Reimagined through dance and music, Director and Choreographer Liv Lorent brings to life Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy’s masterful writing creating a visually powerful performance.

A mirror names, and ultimately curses, a beautiful young woman, ‘the fairest of them all’, throwing her mother into a jealous rage. Fleeing from those set to capture her, Snow White stumbles across seven miners deep in the forest, hoping to forge a new life away from fear. A captivating tale with all the classic elements: red apples, magical mirrors and the Evil Queen.

 

balletLORENT in Rapunzel at Oxford Playhouse, 5th April 2013 – Lizzy Spight reviews

Opening picture – adults and children playing with big white and red balls, a big metal tree, white long ropes, children dancing a maypole dance.

The stage set for Rapunzel of tall iron railings is dominant throughout the whole piece with clever variations of the same set to create different scenes and atmospheres. That concept is introduced right at the beginning. Aesthetic to look at one moment, restricting and dark the next, there is effective play with black and white shades of the metal by the lighting design.