Photo – © Guy Farrow

The magic is back!

It is a long time since I was able to sit in the Theatre Royal auditorium and watch a live show. Like many in the audience I was a little hesitant, given how our government seems determined to put no obstacles in the way of Covid to protect those more at risk.

The theatre itself feels refreshed and clean, and seems to have benefited from a bit of a declutter while sitting out the overlong interval since the abrupt end of Les Miserables so very many months ago.

The show that drew me to return had to be a good one. I like ballet, I love modern dance, and nothing beats a classic tale inventively retold. A bit of real magic was needed to get me through those sliding doors.

Northern Ballet, Merlin. Yup. Magic. Based on tales that are in the fabric of our nation and culture. But hold on to your seats, this is not a dusty old epic with lots of gore and an oversized dinner table, but a fabulous imaginative dance that tells a charming story in full detail.

David Nixon’s Northern Ballet have brought some of the most memorable and enjoyable theatre events to the Royal stage over the years, and they are marked by excellent and expressive choreography, spectacular sets and staging and a company that seems to contain limitless talent. This season marks the end of David’s association with Northern Ballet and marks it in the style we would expect.

The set and costume design is key to the magical transfer we enjoy to kingdoms familiar yet very different. Gold colours predominate in many backgrounds, the two warring tribes are colour coded with a kind of mustardy gold for the Solar Kingdom, and a turquoise sea blue for the Kingdom of the Tides. Together they take us through sunny palaces and azure depths. There are many rather eye catching tricks with modern lights and props, but never to the point of being a gimmick or a distraction. There are mythical creatures, including the cutest dragon that will ever blow smoke in your eyes.

At the heart of the ballet there is a complex love story, with lovers thwarted by deception, battle and mischance and deceived by a bit of misused magic along the way, but they remain true to their intentions in the end. Our hero Merlin, product of a magical union between gods, the Lady of the Lake and Helios the Sun God, is raised by a blacksmith. She anchors him throughout his turbulent journey to self awareness, helps him discover his magic powers and gives him the sword Excalibur.

The bellicose Vortigren, king of the Solar kingdom, sets his prince Uther to tasks in battle, but lets him yield to Morgan. She is an ambitious general who wants to trick Uther into becoming her mate, but he has been captivated by Ygraine, free spirit of the kingdom of the Tides. Needless to say there is a good bit of to-ing and fro-ing on the way to resolving these tensions. Morgan is caped in black as befits the baddie in any good tale.

Choreographer Drew McOnie works well with composer Grant Olding to give us a brand new ballet that has every prospect of becoming a classic audience favourite. I have not named the star dancers tonight – simply, we were not told who was dancing tonight. The programme refers to ‘Our Collaborative Artists’ which is a nice way of saying that this company are uniformly capable performers, although many of us will recognise named stars from previous productions.

The characters may vary from traditional notions, but they fit with our social mores now and allow us to see strengths and weaknesses in an individual without preconceptions of gender, family life or whether they happen to be from a sun based or water seeking bit of the greater society. This all keeps the work fresh and accessible.

Overall this is a blast of fresh fun that draws on some traditional stories but plants them on our consciousness in a spectacular and memorable performance that tells you above all – the magic is back.

© Julian Swainson, Norwich Eye, 2021

 

 

 

Merlin runs until 23rd October at Norwich Theatre Royal.

Tickets for Merlin at Norwich Theatre Royal are available now https://norwichtheatre.org/ or by calling the Box Office on 01603 630 000.