Leeds based ballet company Northern Ballet are currently touring their production of Casanova around the country with audio described performances for blind and partially sighted people at Sadler’s Wells in London on Saturday 14 May at 2.30pm with an insight talk and touch tour at 12 noon with further described performances at the Lowry Salford Quays on Saturday 21 May at 2pm with the insight talk and touch tour at 12noon. 

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with both Northern Ballet’s Musical Director Jonathan Lo and their Artistic and Learning Assistant and Audio Describer Pippa Moore to find out more about Casanova and other described performances. 

Pippa began by giving Toby some background to Northern Ballet’s Casanova, the story behind the man behind the mask with Jonathan talking about Kerry Muzzey’s haunting, dramatic and almost film like score for Casanova. 

Pippa and Jonathan then talked about the relationship between the dancers, conductor and musicians as at every Northern Ballet performance the music is played live by Northern Ballet’s Sinfonia. With Pippa explaining how the performance of the ballet score by Northern Ballet’s Sinfonia in a way drives the flow and sometimes the presentation of her audio description with the dancers performance, the music and the audio description forging together to become one in the live audio described ballet performance. 

Pippa then outlined to Toby what blind and partially sighted patrons will benefit from by attending the insight talk and touch tour prior to the audio described performance of Casanova at Sadler’s Wells on Saturday 14 may and other at other described performances giving a full insight into the production, from the narrative story, the set, costumes and props along with an explanation of some of the ballet terms and an opportunity to go on stage at Sadler’s Wells.

With Jonathan ending the interview by highlighting some of the wonderful music which will be played live at Northern Ballet productions coming up over the summer and later in the year too.

To find out more about Northern Ballet and details of up-coming audio described performances including those for Casanova, The Great Gatsby and others do visit the audio description page of their website -

https://northernballet.com/accessible-performances/audio-described-performances

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