Ahoy there!
English National Ballet will premiere a new production of Le Corsaire – The Pirate – at Milton Keynes Theatre. It will be the first UK company to perform the complete work.
Le Corsaire is based on Lord Byron’s poem, Corsaire, and tells the story of Conrad, a dashing pirate, and his love for Medora, the beautiful harem girl. It is a swashbuckling drama of captive maidens, rich sultans, kidnap, love and betrayal, culminating in a breathtaking shipwreck.
English National Ballet’s artistic director, Tamara Rojo, said: “Like all great Russian classics it is a true epic story that offers drama, an exotic landscape and the best pyrotechnics of the classic technique.
“It’s a men’s ballet, with heroic and passionate characters and with the famous pas de deux that made a legend of Nureyev when he first performed in England with Dame Margot Fonteyn.
“This is a unique and unmissable opportunity as it has never before been performed by a British company.”
The ballet has four male principal roles so unlike many classics it will give the men the chance to show off their skills and athleticism.
The musical score has also been reorchestrated. And the sets and costumes have been designed by Bob Rignwood, who was a designer for the Batman film.
Bob said: “Designing Le Corsaire, I thought it would be interesting to bring out the romantic and historic elements of the original ballet.
“I hope to capture the flavour of the Romantic period in which it was first staged. The sets and costumes are based on original paintings, prints and engravings of the mid 19th century to capture and infuse the essence of the period.”
See Le Corsaire at Milton Keynes Theatre from Thursday, October 17 to Saturday, October 19. Performances are at 7.30pm each evening plus there is a matinee at 2pm on the Thursday and at 2.30pm on the Saturday. Tickets cost from £11.90 plus a booking fee.
Call the box office on 08448 717652.