The Royal Opera House? The Pleasance Theatre in North London is not, but it does provide a perfect performance space for Giselle: Remix, a modern and innovative retelling of the classic much-loved ballet.
If your social circles or lack of interest in classical ballet mean you haven’t found yourself in the auditoriums of the likes of the Royal Opera House or Coliseum to see Giselle (the OG version), you may not be familiar with the storyline, so this next part is for you.
In a nutshell, a young peasant girl, Giselle (no, not a small horned dear like creature that would be found in Africa), is in love with Albrecht (what a name), a Duke who hides his title and his engagement to another (very Married at First Sight Australia – IYKYK). When Giselle discovers he has deceived her, she is driven to madness, and dies of a broken heart. Sad times. And if that didn’t get your artistic rivers flowing, fear not, because this ‘beloved tale’ has had a REMIX!
Jack Sears and Hannah Grennell’s creation is good. It’s really good. It cleverly blends traditional elements of storytelling and classical dance techniques, with creative new themes and choreography. Nothing you’ll see on stage is groundbreaking, but for the size of the production it’s thoroughly enjoyable to immerse yourself in. If you are of a nervous or delicate temperament though, this one isn’t for you. These artists boldly express themselves for over an hour and touch on sensitive themes such as drug abuse, suicide, and death, but it must be noted, all with well-composed delivery.