BRB Bring Aladdin to Lowry prior to London, 27 Feb

The Lowry’s partner company, Birmingham Royal Ballet return to Salford later this month with their take on the classic – Aladdin.

BRB director David Bintley’s previous productions include Hobson’s Choice, Edward II, Far from the Madding Crowd, Cinderella and The Prince of the Pagodas. Music for Aladdin is provided by Carl Davis. The score was first commissioned by Scottish Ballet with choreography by Robert Cohan in 2001. The score was substantially revised with numerous cuts made and new music written especially for David Bintley’s National Ballet of Japan world premiere in 2008. Davis has written numerous ballets, TV and film scores including The French Lieutenant’s Woman in 1981, for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music.

The ballet begins with Aladdin’s run-in with Palace guards that leads the young tearaway into a whirlwind of adventure and romance, involving unbelievable riches, love at first sight, treachery, and of course a magic lamp. Duped into helping an evil Maghrib, Aladdin finds himself trapped in a cave for three days and nights, with no light and nothing to eat. But it is only when he attempts to light the old lamp he’s found, that his real adventure begins.

Set designs are by Dick Bird, with costumes by Sue Blane. Aladdin is a co-production with Houston Ballet Foundation, establishing further links between Birmingham Royal Ballet and the international dance arena. The production is supported (2013) by The John Ellerman Foundation, the estate of Margery Bremner and the estate of Pamela Green.

Aladdin is at the Lowry from 27 February – 2 March, prior to its London premiere at Sadler’s Wells.