RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews.

This week we have a triple bill of ballet performances by Birmingham Royal Ballet spanning 100 years with Still Life, Interlinked, and Apollo at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Saturday 10 June at 2.30pm with description by Professional Audio Describers Julia Grundy and Jonathan Nash. 

Three contrasting ballets created across the last 100 years, from George Balanchine's exquisite Apollo, to Juliano Nunes's Interlinked, and David Bintley's engaging but poignant look at human impact on the world, 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café.

A colourful host of endangered animals seek shelter from the storm in David Bintley’s ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café. Featuring a morris-dancing flea, a ballroom-dancing ram, a hoe-downing rat, a majestic zebra and many more, this is an ‘unforgettable’ (Sunday Times), witty and enjoyable, yet bittersweet and poignant look at human impact on the world. All danced to Simon Jeffes’s delightful score, originally composed for the Penguin Café Orchestra. 'Pure genius' (The Sunday Express on ‘Still Life’)

The ‘quiet perfection’ (The Guardian) of Apollo highlighted the genius of its creator, the then 24-year-old George Balanchine, and launched his lifelong partnership with the composer Igor Stravinsky. This most exquisite of ballets was regarded by Balanchine as his artistic coming of age. Its pared back elegance gives the perfect platform for the Company’s world-class dancers to shine. 'Sublime' (The Sunday Times on Apollo)

Brilliant young Brazilian choreographer Juliano Nunes’s Interlinked was premiered in summer 2022 as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival. Described as ‘stretching ballet’s mould’ by The Guardian, with a specially composed score by Australian composer Luke Howard, this beautifully abstract piece explores ideas of grace, beauty and harmony in ways that push the usual boundaries of classical dance.

For more about Birmingham Royal Ballet and audio described performances of their productions do visit their website - https://www.brb.org.uk/access-performances

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