English National Ballet announces its new production of Giselle by Akram Khan, a co-production with Manchester International Festival and Sadler’s Wells. ENB previously collaborated with Khan on Dust for its Lest We Forget programme.
For Giselle, Academy-Award winning designer Tim Yip, who worked on the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, will create the set and costumes while composer Ben Frost will adapt the original score, performed by English National Ballet Philharmonic. Dramaturgy is by Ruth Little and lighting design from Mark Henderson.
ENB Artistic Director Tamara Rojo said, “from the beginning of my tenure as Artistic Director I have expressed my commitment to keeping the classics relevant.
"When I decided I wanted to bring Giselle, one of the most traditional pieces of the classical repertoire, into the 21st century, there was only one choreographer I believe had both the knowledge of tradition and creativity necessary for this task. I am incredibly excited that Akram accepted this challenge. I believe this will be a very important step for the whole art form.”
Khan said, “I am eager to start the creation of Giselle for English National Ballet. It is a beautiful and iconic piece, and I am looking forward to bringing my own take, together with my collaborators and the wonderful English National Ballet dancers.
"I am still nostalgic from the experience of creating Dust, in the Lest We Forget programme, and am now even more energised to discover the world of Giselle.”
Giselle will have its première at the Palace Theatre, Manchester (27 September to 1 October 2016) followed by Bristol Hippodrome (18 to 22 October 2016), Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (26 to 29 October 2016) and Sadler’s Wells (15 to 19 November 2016).