|
|
 |
| |
Joel Morris |
Pub ballet: ‘Joel’s dying swan’s to die for’
THE graceful art of ballet is to swap the grand theatres and royal courts for a cross-dressing pirouette among the pint glasses next month.
Squeezing into tutus shouldn’t be a problem for the professional drag ballet dancers behind Les Primas, but the physical proportions of the Rosemary Branch theatre pub in Shepperton Road are another matter.
The four muscle-bound men must leap, plié and simulate dying swans on the tiny six-metre stage as they perform excerpts from classics such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.
Joel Morris, who will perform as Margot Funtime at the pub theatre following engagements with English National Ballet and The South Africa Ballet Theatre, said: “The lifts are a bit of a challenge, you have to avoid hitting the lights or getting knocked out on the lighting bars. The audience are constantly in danger of being tickled by the feathers on the tutus.”
Cecilia Darker, artistic director of the Rosemary Branch, said: “It’s a bit difficult to get on the stage in a tutu and the dancers do fouettés into the walls, but Joel’s dying swan is to die for.
“There’s lots of glitter and feathers.”
Providing Mr Morris does not concuss himself on the ceiling, he plans to perform the whole of Swan Lake, with puppet as backing dancers, next year.
Les Primas is at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, Shepperton Road, from August 6-9.
There will be a £25 champagne gala in aid of the Albert Kennedy Trust on August 8 at 7.30pm. |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
