Emma Cann - Page 2

Based on the 1948 film of the same name, starring Moira Shearer, Matthew Bourne's production of The Red Shoes tells the story of ballerina Victoria Page and her tragic struggle between love and duty. Both the film and Matthew Bourne's production are inspired by Han Christian Andersen's fairytale of a young girl who defies conservative values by wearing her red shoes to church. These devilish shoes betray their owner, forcing her to dance to her death.

Set in a trendy warehouse flat in Peckham, What's In A Name follows the ups and downs of a friendly dinner party. Ill-timed jokes, secrets long hidden and a clash of ideologies take place amidst the backdrop of a familiar setting of cheap rose and the cries of children interrupting adult conversation. 

Although Christmas may be over, the last of decorations swept away and life returning to normality, Birmingham holds onto the festive spirit for a little while longer. The Birmingham Repertory Theatre's beloved production of The Snowman delights audiences for a nineteenth successive year. 

The New Alexandra's 2017 season kicks off with Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton. A psychological thriller, in the tradition of the famous Victorian melodramas, Gaslight follows Bella Manningham, who believes she is becoming mentally unstable until she receives a visit from Inspector Rough. The inspector reveals that, twenty years ago, a murder took place in Bella's house and that her husband is the inspector's prime suspect. 

Following the recent Royal Academy of Dance's Genee International Ballet Competition, Emma Cann catches up with young British dancer Hamish Scott, who was awarded a bronze medal at the hotly contested final in Sydney. Tell us about you - where you're from, why you started dancing and where you're training now.  I'm 19 years old and from Harlow in Essex. I have studied at Elmhurst Ballet School since year 8 and this final graduate year is my 7th year. I started dancing because my sister went to ballet lessons and I always wanted to join in. I have always been exposed to dance as my father works in The Royal Ballet Sinfonia and I was fortunate enough to have seen many performances.

If there is one sure sign that Christmas has truly arrived, it's the inescapable onslaught of the pantomime season. Theatres across the country ring to the shouts of 'he's behind you', the boos and hisses, and the singalong family favourites. Often acclaimed as the UK's biggest pantomime, Birmingham Hippodrome present a first class production every single year, and 2016 is no exception. The magical pantomime adventure Dick Whittington stars John Barrowman as the eponymous hero, alongside Steve McFadden (King Rat), Jodie Prenger (Fairy Bowbells) and The Krankies. 

In a welcome break from the usual steady stream of pantomimes and children's productions, the New Alexandra Theatre takes a trip back to the Roaring Twenties this Christmas with Chicago. However, similar to many pantos, this production features a star-studded cast, including Hayley Tamaddon, John Partridge and popstar Mica Paris. 

Originally commissioned by the National Theatre two years ago, Bryony Lavery's adaptation of Treasure Island swings into the Birmingham Rep for a lengthy Christmas run. This classic tale of adventure, buried treasure and dastardly pirates follows Jim Hawkins on a voyage to find the lost treasure of Captain Flint, with her friends Doctor Livesey and Squire Trelawney. When the unwitting squire hires a crew of undercover pirates, led by Long John Silver, the treasure hunt becomes a fight for survival. 

Whilst Simon Russell Beale's return to the Royal Shakespeare Company after a twenty year long absence has been met with justified excitement, the most hotly anticipated aspect of Gregory Doran's new production of The Tempest is the innovative use of digital technology. 

Former Birmingham Royal Ballet and Rambert dancer Alexander Whitley continues an ongoing investigation into relationship between dance and modern technology with Pattern Recognition, seen at Dance Xchange in Birmingham. Performed by two dancers, Julia Sanz Fernandez and David Ledger, Pattern Recognition explores light, shadow and memory. 

An exciting new partnership between Sadler's Wells, Birmingham Hippodrome and the Lowry Salford is bringing international dance companies to the UK for the very first time, offering financial and creative support to artists who may not otherwise have been able to make the journey. Vamos Cuba, from the creators of Havana Rakatan, is one such production. 

Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap truly is a theatrical phenomenon. The enduring popularity of this classic whodunnit story is unprecedented; its mixture of drama, horror, comedy and farce appealing to audiences of all generations, despite changing social conditions and artistic trends. Now a tourist attraction in its own right in London's West End, The Mousetrap has been running for over 63 years and poses its audiences a dual mystery: who is the murderer, and what makes this play such a runaway success?

2 Faced Dance Company's Run is an evening of dance presented by three female choreographers, featuring three new works from the company's artistic director Tamsin Fitzgerald, Prague-based Lenka Vagnerova and the first BENCH commission recipient Rebecca Evans. All three pieces - danced by 2 Faced Dance's all-male company - explore human choice and our decision to take flight or fight the darker side of humanity. Themes of fear, paranoia and evil resonate throughout the evening, which feels particularly poignant given the current political instability. 

It seems as though every popular musician has been the subject of a jukebox musical, and so it is not surprising that the story of Buddy Holly has been explored in Buddy. Touring the UK and seen at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, this musical follows passionate, impulsive Buddy on his struggle to break free of country music and make his name as a rock and roll star, concluding with his early death in a plane crash - the day the music died. 

There's a buzz of excitement in the air whenever Kneehigh Theatre are in town; their joyful, anarchic style combined with a strong emphasis on storytelling is popular with all ages. The Cornwall based company go from strength to strength, building international renown at a remarkable pace. With resident director Emma Rice now at the helm of Shakespeare's Globe, Kneehigh's reach and influence seems set to grow even further. 

As the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death draw to a close, the Birmingham Royal Ballet present the anticipated new creation from David Bintley, The Tempest. The Tempest has fascinated David Bintley for over 20 years. After two decades of research and exploration, he finally presents his long-held Shakespearean dream after finally finding the right composer in Sally Beamish. 

The cult musical, Little Shop of Horrors, has long been a favourite amongst cinema and theatre fans alike. Following an unlikely beginning - a low budget Sci-fi B movie shot in just two days - Little Shop of Horrors was turned into a musical by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, turning this quirky part horror, part comedy into an enduring success. 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater tour the UK for the first time in 6 years, presented by the amazing Dance Consortium. Hailed by the US Congress as "a vital American cultural ambassador to the world", the company perform original works by the late Alvin Ailey - including his most famous and critically acclaimed piece Revelations - as well works by more contemporary choreographers who contribute to the company's repertory. 

Jamie Wilson and the Leicester Curve's new production of Sister Act contains all of the ingredients for a smash-hit musical: a star director, a celebrity lead, a well-known, beloved story based on a popular film, and a plethora of sequins and catchy tunes.  Based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act follows the story of Deloris Van Cartier, an aspiring Philadelphia club singer. When Doloris witnesses her mobster boyfriend Curtis commit murder, she rushes to the police and old high school friend, Eddie, hides her in the one place she surely won't be found: a convent. The Mother Superior abhors Deloris' outspoken and extravagant nature. However, Deloris soon forms a close bond with the other sisters, transforming their pitiful choir with soul and funk versions of their usual hymns. When the convent choir's growing popularity puts Deloris' safety at risk, the sisters and even Mother Superior risk everything to protect her. 

One of the world's most famous cars has flown into the Birmingham Hippodrome this week, in the form of Ian Fleming's spectacular musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Based on the beloved film of the same name, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang sees struggling inventor Caractacus Potts swept away on an extraordinary adventure with his children, Jeremy and Jemima, and the beautiful Truly Scrumptious.