Pinocchio Ballet at the Assembly Hall Theatre Review
Pinocchio Ballet
Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
29 May 2016
Reviewed by Amanda Hayes
This afternoon we set off for the 3pm performance of Pinocchio at the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall where the audience was full families of all ages.
We thought we had a good idea of what to expect as the story is so famous but being a very old tale, first written as a book back in 1883, it has since been interpreted in many different ways and this performance was just one of many versions written and adapted over the years.
The ballet is performed beautifully by Ballet Theatre UK with an extremely talented and wonderfully dressed cast of dancers. Based in Hinckley, Leicestershire the school provides the highest level of training which includes Contemporary dance and Jazz as well as traditional ballet and Pointe work. The cast showed their professionalism during the show when the sign post encouraging Pinocchio to choose school or fun fell over. Without a single step out of turn the dancers quickly picked it up and carried on as if nothing had happened.
The performance starts light hearted and upbeat with Gepetto meeting his true love, however she falls ill and dies leading to a much darker section of the ballet. Gepetto is distraught and returns to his workshop where he carves a wooden puppet called Pinocchio. Pinocchio has only one wish, to become a real boy, and his wish is soon granted by the Blue Fairy ably assisted by Jiminy Cricket.
Pinocchio is an easily led boy and soon gets into trouble with the brilliantly portrayed Fox and Cat. They played excellent parts and stopped the show from getting too dark by adding a little humour. When Pinocchio eventually went back to school he got in with a bad crowd and plays truant to the local fair. Here sets a wonderful and colourful scene of dancing amongst the fairground attractions. It’s fair to say the trip to the attraction ends badly for Pinocchio and his friends but I won’t give anymore of the story away than that apart from to say there is a happy ending!
Whilst maybe not suitable for very young children one look around the theatre showed the awe on the faces of the young ballet fans, mainly around age 6 and up, as they watched transfixed at the beautiful dancing in front of them.
It’s a pleasure to watch anything at Tunbridge Wells, the staff are prompt and courteous, and the venue clean and tidy with a large choice of drinks, snacks and locally produced ice creams. It is also a very easy place to visit as the multi storey car park is right next door for straight forward parking.
Pinocchio performed by the Ballet Theatre UK is running across the Country so if you have ballet fans in your family, or love the story of Pinocchio book up and try it at a venue near you, you won’t be disappointed.
Rating: 4.5/5
The Ballet Theatre UK production of Pinocchio is currently on tour around the UK until 19 June 2016, for more information and tour dates visit www.ballettheatreuk.com.
For other shows at the Assembly Hall Theatre visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk.
Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Rd, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2LU | 01892 530613
