Last Updated on February 24, 2025
Swan Lake at the New Wimbledon Theatre – a gentle affair
The Varna International Ballet appeared at the New Wimbledon Theatre from the 13th to the 15th of February, performing their adaption of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker as part of their whistlestop 2025 international touring season in the UK. It was very pleasant to visit such a lovely Edwardian theatre which has many baroque features, and there are many cafes and bars nearby for before and after show refreshments. The price of tickets is very reasonable considering the high prices of theatre tickets in central London.
The Varna International Ballet company was founded in 1947 in Varna, Bulgaria, and on this tour is a group of young dancers of the company, mostly European, who are gaining experience. Daniela Dimova is its Artistic Director and it has its own small orchestra, conducted by Peter Tuleshkov.
Their first performance at this theatre was the production of Swan Lake, based on the choreography of Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov and Alexander Gorsky and revised to be suitable for stage touring by Sergei Bobrov, the stage designer. This meant that there were limitations on the staging, costumes and props which is understandable for a touring company, but some aspects worked better than others; the sets and staging were generally simple and serviceable, and the costumes could be refined. The gorgeous black and gold tutu of Odile was an exception, and Mara Salvaggio’s captivating performance as the black swan was the highlight of the show. A video projection backdrop is used to explain the story, and, though dreamy and whimsical, is not always used to its best effect, just as often the video footage appeared awkwardly edited or outdated in its choice of imagery. Perhaps this production tries too hard to tell the story through this medium; the story has been changed and much of this change was conveyed via the projector’s imagery. The synopsis is by Vladimir Begichev and Vasily Geltzer.
Act 1 begins with Prince Seigfried reading a fairytale about Odette’s parents, a swan fairy and a knight, who were killed by the sorcerer, Von Rothbart. Odette is hidden by her grandfather, whose tears create the lake she swims in now. The sorcerer pursues her, and he is now tutor to a prince who lives by this lake. He conspires to prevent her from falling in love with an earthly man, as this would break his power over her. Although there was whimsy to this version of the story, still the sorcerer’s opaque motives for harming Odette and her family can leave the audience at a bit of a loss. Prince Seigfried was danced by Vittorio Scolẻ who performed stylishly with good technique.
The Corps de Ballet performed a charming, if slightly overly-long, village scene, with some of these dancers doubled later as the Swans, Cygnets and the prospective Brides. We meet Seigfried’s friend Benno, athletically danced by Giacomo Ammazzini. Von Rothbart (Lorenzo Poggianti) was portrayed with a strong stage presence, however, his slightly affected manner and camp costume choice disrupted the portrayal of a more sinister characterisation.
The Sovereign Princess was danced by Roberta Estrela Marques, suitably regal. She and her ladies-in-waiting were dressed a little bizarrely; the princess’ purple dress was not elegant enough for her position, and the ladies were in quite odd Dune-like black dresses with tall headgear, but she provided, still, a royal dignity. The knighting of Seigfreid with a sword lacked some gravitas as the sword itself was too prop-like, overly large and noticeably made of cardboard. Four jesters entered the hall with the Princess, and they were dressed in Tudor-like costumes, but their choreography was a little tiresome and repetitive.
The story was changed so that Seigfried did not receive the crossbow as his birthday present, and as such there was no dance with the crossbow as in other productions, nor was there his hunt of the swans in the forest. In this version, he finds himself at the moonlit lakeside amongst a flock of swans and then happens upon the crowned fairy swan, Odette, whom he read about before.
She was danced by a poised Martina Prefetto, who explains her story to him and tells him that being a swan gives her a time of personal freedom (whereas in the original tale, it is her curse). Their pas de deux was charming, though the choreography seemed to revert too often to the supported penchée arabesque. The swans provided a dreamish entourage, and the Cygnet dance was an excellent, stand-out moment.
In Act 2, Seigfried is introduced to the prospective Hungarian, Spanish, Neapolitan and Polish brides but refuses to choose any of them. The national dances were entertaining, especially those of the Neapolitan and Polish brides, though their costumes could be more beautiful. Odile, in her resplendent black and gold costume, was danced by Mara Salvaggio, who was the stand-out dancer of the ballet; alluring, strong, with charisma. Prince Seigfried and Odile’s pas de deux was engaging, her fouetté turns fast and agile.
The deceived Seigfried chooses Odile as his bride but then glimpses Odette outside beating her wings. Realising his mistake, he rushes to the lakeside where he finds the sorrowful Odette. Spurred to action he pursues Von Rothbart. There is no fight scene, which would have provided more catharsis at this critical moment, but the story unfolds clearly enough; the sorcerer is chased into the stormy lake and drowns, and in this way, happiness is restored and the curse is broken.
The Varna International Ballet live orchestra played the Tchaikovsky score with both power and sweetness. The ballet was especially appealing to young children in the audience, who enjoyed the simplicity and sparkling colours of the production, one child calling out to her mother during Seigfried and the White Swan’s pas de deux, ‘I want to dance! I want to dance!’
The Varna International Ballet tour is continuing to other venues in the UK, including Norwich, Hull, Sheffield, Leicester and Northampton until 5th March, and will also be performing Romeo and Juliet. For details of the tour check here
For more about what is on at the New Wimbledon Theatre check their website here
New Wimbledon Theatre
93 The Broadway,
Wimbledon
London SW19 1QG
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