NEW ADVENTURES
ANNOUNCES THE FULL CAST FOR
WORLD PREMIERE
OF
OPENING AT THEATRE ROYAL NOTTINGHAM
ON 1-5 OCTOBER 2019
New Adventures is delighted to announce full casting for the world premiere of Matthew Bourne’s “ROMEO AND JULIET” which will open at the Theatre Royal Nottingham on Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 October 2019, as part of a UK tour to 13 venues.
Matthew Bourne’s “ROMEO AND JULIET” is a passionate and contemporary re-imagining of Shakespeare’s classic love story. Bursting with youth, vitality and Matthew Bourne’s trademark storytelling, Britain’s brightest young dance talent join the New Adventures company for this World Premiere production.
As part of New Adventures’ ambition to support, the next generation of on-stage talent “ROMEO AND JULIET” will feature the finest emerging male and female dancers from around the UK. The search began in April 2018 with a call-out for young dancers currently in training aged between 16 and 19. Attracting over 1000 applications and following a UK-wide audition tour, Young Cast members will perform at each venue alongside the New Adventures company.
Matthew Bourne said “New Adventures’ Romeo and Juliet will be a celebration of youthful energy, talent and creativity both on and off-stage and, uniquely, in all aspects of Choreography, Design and Music through the appointment of a series of “Young Associate Artists”. As we enter our fourth decade as a company I’m finding the development of young talent ever more important and fulfilling. Our new company of “Romeo and Juliet” features a staggering 97 young dancers making their debuts with us; some are joining us as part of their third year of training, others have come through our Company initiatives such as “Swan School”, “A Summer Adventure” and of course, our production of “Lord of the Flies” which inspired so many young men to seek careers in dance. This time we have focused on nurturing young male and female dancers, and I have been overwhelmed by the talent that we have had to choose from throughout the UK. I’m particularly happy to be working alongside my Young Associate Choreographer, Arielle Smith, an exceptional young dancemaker of great maturity and vision. In turn, after 30 years as a professional choreographer, I look forward to being refreshed and inspired by what this team of young artists will bring to Shakespeare’s classic tale of tragic conflict and young love”.
The two casts for this touring production, ‘The Capulets’ and ‘The Montagues’, will perform at different venues; giving each company the time to rehearse with the previously announced Young Casts whilst the tour continues.
The Capulet Company will be performing in Nottingham – Cordelia Braithwaite as ‘Juliet’ and Paris Fitzpatrick as ‘Romeo’ alongside: Reece Causton; Harrison Dowzell (also plays ‘Romeo’); Alexander Fadayiro; Jackson Fisch; Cameron Flynn; Bryony Harrison (also plays ‘Juliet’); Monique Jonas; Daisy May Kemp; Sharol Mackenzie; Hannah Mason; Stephen Murray; Chris Thomas; Roisin Whelan and Dan Wright.
In addition, Kate Lyons, Matt Petty and Mark Samaras will tour with the production and perform with both companies.
Making their professional debuts with the company are Harrison Dowzell, as ‘Romeo’, who auditioned for the Young Cast in Nottingham, and Bryony Wood, as ‘Juliet’, discovered during the Young Cast auditions in Southampton. Both are in their graduate years at Performers College and Tring Park School for the Performing Arts respectively.
Joining the full time cast in Nottingham will be six young cast members making their debut with New Adventures: Megan Ferguson, Alistair Fernie, Seirian Griffiths, Victoria Keal, Jaimie Tank and Sua Tsubokura-Aguiriano.
New Adventures is committed to finding and developing diverse young talent from across the UK. Since “Lord of the Flies” in 2014, New Adventures has been supporting young dancers from this production on their journey into training and professional work. The company have delivered various initiatives, including Swan School, two week-long intensives designed to prepare graduate level dancers for the audition process.
Continuing New Adventures’ commitment to developing off-stage talent we have recruited a team of Young Associate Artists to work alongside the Artistic team in the creation of this world premiere production. Rachel Goldberg as Young Associate Sound Designer and Alexander Ling as Young Associate Orchestrator join the previously announced Arielle Smith as Young Associate Choreographer; Elin Steele as Young Associate Set & Costume Designer and Ali Hunter as Young Associate Lighting Designer.
“ROMEO AND JULIET” is directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, collaborating with his entire New Adventures Associate Artistic team; Etta Murfitt, Associate Artistic Director, set and costume design by Lez Brotherston; lighting by Paule Constable; sound by Paul Groothuis; and new orchestrations of the Prokofiev score by Terry Davies, played live at every venue by The New Adventures Orchestra conducted by Brett Morris.
For more information, please visit: www.new-adventures.net
LOCAL LISTINGS INFORMATION:
MATTHEW BOURNE’S ROMEO AND JULIET
Theatre Royal Nottingham
Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 October 2019
Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Thu matinee 2pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm
£19.50 – £44 plus discounts for Members*, Under 26s, Under 16s, 16-25 year olds, Schools and Groups www.trch.co.uk 0115 989 5555
*The Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham Membership scheme offers ticket discounts, exclusive pre-sales, meet the cast nights and more www.trch.co.uk/membership
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact Lucy Thomas in the Theatre Royal Nottingham press office lucy.thomas@nottinghamcity.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Biog information for Nottingham’s Young Cast
Megan Ferguson was born in Kettering and lives in Market Harborough. She is training with Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Her biggest goal is to one day be part of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and it is a dream come true to be in one of his productions.
Alistair Fernie was born and raised in Nottingham. He is training at Performers College. He is a huge fan of Matthew Bourne’s productions and has always wanted to be a part of one ever since he started dancing.
Seirian Griffiths was born in Nottingham and lives in London. He is training at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. He is hugely inspired by New Adventure’s productions and the opportunity to be a part of a full length piece with the company is a fantastic opportunity to challenge himself and grow as a performer.
Victoria Keal was born and raised in Grimsby. She is training at Swaby Dance Centre. She is hugely inspired by the New Adventures company and hopes that the opportunity of dancing alongside them in “Romeo and Juliet” will help her follow in their footsteps.
Jaimie Tank was born and raised in Leicester and is training at DuPont Dance Stage School. Jaimie started dancing at the age of 6. Having seen “Swan Lake” he was truly inspired and now to be cast in “Romeo and Juliet” and have the opportunity to perform with cast members from New Adventures is a dream come true and the opportunity of a lifetime.
Sua Tsubokura-Aguiriano was born in Barcelona and lives in Nottingham. She is training at Dance 4 CAT. Having watched many of Matthew Bourne’s productions, his choreography has inspired her views on the dance world and she cannot wait for the opportunity to increase her dance performance experience with him.
New Adventures
New Adventures is an iconic and groundbreaking British dance-theatre company, famous for telling stories with a unique theatrical twist. For over 30 years Matthew Bourne and New Adventures have delighted, inspired and nurtured people of all ages and backgrounds: audiences, artists and the next generation. We create world-class productions and engaging projects, reaching thousands worldwide every year.
New Adventures has received numerous international awards and an incredible 12 Olivier Award nominations, including six wins. Over the past 30 years, New Adventures has created 11 full-length productions and a triple-bill of short works. This award-winning repertoire has inspired and thrilled over 6 million people worldwide.
Investing in the future of dance and theatre, New Adventures engages in inclusive projects with thousands of people of all ages and ability, as well as emerging artists across the UK and around the world.
New Adventures is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.
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