Northern Ballet Theatre's reputation has grown immeasurably since David Nixon took over as Artistic Director in 2001. Since then he has created and choreographed nine full-length ballets for the company and in December last year won an OBE for services to dance.
The current programme, Wuthering Heights, is a tour de force. Working in collaboration with the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg (the celebrated composer of Les Miserables music, this is his first ballet score) they have created a work that incorporates all the turbulence and passion of this classic love story.
Right from the very beginning of the show's two acts, sombre music sets the tone of Heathcliff's anguish as he dances frenetically on the heath, recalling his youth when he and Cathy were once united in joy.
There are two dancers for Heathcliff and two for Cathy to portray their youth and subsequent maturity.
In this performance, Kenneth Tindall played the 'older' Heathcliffe, whilst Ashley Dixon was the 'younger'. Julie Charlet was the 'older' Cathy with Michela Paolacci as the 'younger' version.
The dancers, coupled with Nixon's fabulous choregraphy and Schonberg's music, were fantastic. In perfect synchronisation, they are throughly engaging throughout in the turbulent emotions involved in the journey of this doomed love affair which concludes on a beautiful note, with the young Heathcliff and Cathy united on the moor, capturing snow flakes.
The settings were simple, yet effective. The costumes were of the period and flowed elegantly. The dancing and acting of the troupe was excellent.
Choreographically and musically this is a great interpretation of Emily Bronte's story.
Show times: Friday 12 and Saturday 13th March - Edinburgh Festival Theatre - 7.30pm
Tuesday 16 - Saturday 20 March - Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre - 7.30pm