This is London Magazine March Edition 2026 - Flipbook - Page 4
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T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
Photo: Daniel Boud
As Don Quixote embarks on a chivalric
quest in pursuit of his idealised love, his
journey unfolds into a colourful adventure
shaped by romance, illusion, and
exuberant theatricality. Acosta’s production
balances narrative clarity with high-energy
spectacle, allowing the warmth and
humour of the story to shine while
celebrating the technical brilliance that
defines this nineteenth-century classic.
Audiences familiar with the grandeur of
Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty will
find much to admire here. Don Quixote is
renowned for its electrifying pas de deux,
virtuosic solos, and ensemble dances that
pulse with vitality and precision. These
moments are further elevated by the Royal
Ballet Sinfonia’s spirited performance of
Ludwig Minkus’s evocative score, whose
buoyant rhythms infuse the production
with irresistible momentum.
Sun-drenched Spanish settings, bold
characterisation and joyous choreography
combine to create an atmosphere of
celebration and escapism. Birmingham
Royal Ballet brings this exuberant classic
to London at Sadler’s Wells from 23 to 25
April, offering audiences the opportunity
to experience a life-affirming production
that remains as thrilling and accessible
today as ever.
Cynthia Erivo in Dracula.
BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET
PERFORM DON QUIXOTE
In the first revival of his acclaimed
2022 production, Director Carlos Acosta
is to present a vibrant interpretation of
Don Quixote for Birmingham Royal Ballet,
offering richly layered entertainment for
audiences of all ages. Drawing on the
enduring appeal of Cervantes’ beloved
novel, the ballet introduces the eccentric
knight Don Quixote, his loyal companion
Sancho Panza, and the spirited lovers Kitri
and Basilio, alongside a lively cast of
supporting characters.
CYNTHIA ERIVO IN DRACULA
Producers Michael Cassel and Adam
Kenwright are currently presenting Sydney
Theatre Company’s acclaimed production
of DRACULA, adapted and directed by Kip
Williams, in London’s West End at the
Noel Coward Theatre. Starring Cynthia
Erivo, this bold, one-actor reimagining of
Bram Stoker’s gothic novel places a single
performer at the centre of an epic
psychological thriller.
In a virtuosic tour-de-force, Erivo
embodies all 23 characters – from
Jonathan Harker and Mina Murray to
Lucy Westenra, Van Helsing and Count
Dracula – shifting seamlessly between
perspectives to reveal a story driven as
much by longing as by terror.
In his radical adaptation, Williams
reframes Dracula as an intense
psychological battle between fear and
desire, interrogating the nature of
repression, obsession and the duality of
the self. Blurring the boundaries between
predator and prey, the production
suggests the true monster may not be an
external force, but something that stirs
within. The work continues Williams’
pioneering ‘cine-theatre’ form, fusing
live performance with video and
cinematic techniques to create an
immersive, multi-layered theatrical
experience.
