Swan Lake at Lighthouse Poole Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Lisa
Swan Lake is a ballet that has been performed for over a century and is one of the most popular ballets in the world. The performance at Poole Lighthouse was no exception. The International Classic Ballet Theatre presented the show with grace and skill, making it a delightful experience for us all. On this occasion I went with my mum and 8 year old daughter, who had never been to watch a ballet before. She loves dancing and when I saw Swan Lake was being performed near us, I jumped at the chance to take her to one of my favourite ballets I saw as a child.
Swan Lake is the tragic tale of love that triumphs over evil. Prince Siegfried falls in love with Odette, Queen of the Swans, only to be tricked into betraying her. The Swan Queen and Prince were performed brilliantly, showing a range of emotions and expression through their movements. We held our breath throughout Odile’s famous 32 fouetté turns, which she did without fault – in fact we think it was nearer 36 turns as my daughter was counting them! My daughter particularly enjoyed the jester as he really added some additional fun to the production, and my favourite parts are always the lake scenes with all the swans. The scenery was spectacular, and the smoke by the lake was very effective. Unfortunately, the performers’ names were not listed in the programme so I can’t give them the individual credit that they deserve. The ballet was, of course, set to Tchaikovsky’s instantly recognisable score, which was performed by a live orchestra. The music was moving and played beautifully, and it added to the overall experience of the ballet. The stage did seem to be a little smaller than the cast would have liked as there were a couple of moments when some of the chorus dancers found themselves close to colliding, but they were competent enough to keep the show going.
Poole Lighthouse is easy to get to, and there is a multistorey car park right next door which, although tight to get in to, is so convenient. The venue is easily accessible, and there is a train and bus station within walking distance as well. We have always had a warm welcome when visiting here and there is a well-stocked bar where you can buy drinks and take them in to the theatre with you. The Lighthouse itself has a restaurant and bar and the theatre has tiered seating inside with around 600 seats, so there is a good view from everywhere. The show was supposed to last 2 hours and 35 minutes including two intervals, however it was closer to 3 hours.
In conclusion, this was a beautiful and captivating performance. The International Classic Ballet Theatre did an excellent job of bringing the story to life, and we particularly enjoyed the different ending they performed – we won’t spoil that for you here though! I would highly recommend this performance to anyone who loves ballet or is looking for a fun evening out.
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £25 – £49
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/swan-lake/
For more information or to book tickets please visit:
Lighthouse (lighthousepoole.co.uk) or ring the box office on 01202 280000.
Address: 21 Kingland Road, Poole BH15 1UG