A night out with the phantom thespians.
It was a dark and stormy night in October - no, it really was, because Storm Babet was raging all across Yorkshire and Derbyshire last night and I had to venture out in the wild weather, as I had theatre tickets. Autumn is upon us and that can only mean one thing - theatre season is in full swing and like always, I intend to make the very most of it. Over the past couple of weeks I have been to some lovely shows and events, culminating in a wonderfully spooky show last night.
With Samhain just around the corner and the weather adding to the atmosphere, I spent last night enjoying an evening of macabre theatricals. The warmth of the theatre was a welcome relief from the wind and torrential rain I had come through to get there, and I was glad to settle down into my seat. I didn't know what to expect, as the play had just been billed as a spooky, seasonal event, but I had a great time.
There is something very cosy about sitting in the dark, listening to a group of actors telling various ghost stories, all linked together with a theme of haunted theatres and paranormal investigation. The tales were chilling stories of murder, accidents and revenge, drawn from haunted theatres across the UK. There was smoke, lights, screams and eerie voices coming across the loud speakers, shadowy figures coming down the aisles unexpectedly and the sinister singing of a little dead girl, so that the audience was completely immersed in the story that was unfolding on stage.
I haven't been to see a play in a very long time and I thoroughly enjoyed the Ghost Show. It was a one-night only event because the thespians didn't want their show to be ruined by spoilers online, so it only ran for a single night. Somehow, this enhanced the experience and it felt very much like we were participating in a night of paranormal investigation. Many of the stories told were accounts of sinister events which befell actual historical people, in theatres up and down the country, leading to those figures allegedly haunting those places.
It all revolved around the superstition of the ghost light, which is a single bare light bulb on a stand that remains lit throughout the night, when the theatre is empty, to keep the ghost audience company. This is an actual tradition in all theatres that still takes place to this day. As the theatre is closed down for the night, someone is charged with the job of lighting the ghost light and setting it in the middle of the empty stage, where it remains lit all night, until the cleaners come in the next day and turn it off. This is a rather spooky tradition, so it's not surprising that it has inspired an entire play of ghostly goings-on!
As adults, we rarely get the experience of being told a great story and so last night was quite nostalgic, taking the audience back to childhood memories of being read to in infancy. It also serves to keep the ritual of traditional storytelling alive, when tales would be told around the fire and passed on by word of mouth. I really enjoyed it. It was lovely to sit in a darkened theatre, on a stormy autumn night and be entertained by a talented group of actors and professional storytellers. It was a great start to the dark season.
The day before, however, couldn't have been more different, as that was the day that I went to see Taylor Swift's Era's Tour. It was phenomenal! I was very excited to see it and I wasn't a bit disappointed. Taylor always delivers! I genuinely believe that there is nothing she can't do! Everything she sets her mind to is a massive success and her talent for storytelling through her music is simply extraordinary.
The costumes were stunning and everything she wore sparkled and shimmered as she danced her way across a huge stage. Each of her albums and various Era's were represented with its own set, the costume colours cohesive with the album cover art, giving just the right vibe for each one. It was like being swept into the very depths of the world she created with each album, from the dreaminess and fairytale enchantment of Sparks Fly, to the joyfulness of Lover, the rebellious revenge of Reputation and the softness of Folklore and Evermore, ending with the magic of Midnights. It really was an amazing concert and although it was over three hours long, I still didn't want it to end! I enjoyed every single second, every note and step, every lift, turn and quick-change. I had such a fantastic time and I really hope that she makes this tour available to buy on DVD, as I would watch it again and again.
About a week before the Tayor concert, I also went to the ballet for the first time since the pandemic. I've had tickets to two different ballets over the last three years, but the first was cancelled due to the second or third covid lockdown, while the second ballet was cancelled because it was the Russian State Ballet who were touring, so when Russia invaded Ukraine, their ballet companies were no longer made welcome, so the show was cancelled indefinitely.
This time, however, the show wasn't cancelled and I finally got to see a ballet company perform live. I have lots of ballets on DVD, but there is nothing like seeing a live performance and watching the dancers tell their story right in front of you. I went to see Mathew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet. I have seen a couple of his productions before and enjoyed them, most espcially his Gothic version of Sleeping Beauty, which I think is my favourite ballet after Swan Lake. I even prefer the Bourne version over the classical rendition, because I love the Gothic slant he has given to my favourite fairytale. I also like his all male rendition of Swan Lake too.
So I was excited to see Romeo and Juliet. However, it wasn't what I was expecting, being a very modern re-telling, in which the lovers are incarcerated in an asylum of some kind. The costumes were all white, for all the dancers, and it took a while for me to be able to distinguish the principles from the corps. The things I love most about ballet are the sparkly tutus and costumes, and of course the pointe work, both of which were completely lacking in this contemporary version. I know that contemporary ballet doesn't feature point work, but I had been hoping for some lovely costumes. Sadly, it more about straight jackets than sparkles! Also, they changed the ending too.
So although I found the ballet enjoyable, it wasn't my favourite Mathew Bourne production - that remains Sleeping Beauty, which I have on DVD. As for Romeo and Juliet, I much prefer the classical rendition, the Fonteyn and Nureyev performance in particular. Still, it was nice to be back at the ballet and I already have tickets to see the classical Swan Lake in a few months as well, so I'm really looking forward to that.
Of course, theatre season will continue for the rest of the autumn and winter - this is their busiest time of year, so there are lots of other things booked into my calendar before the end of the year, including shows, events, holidays, afternoon teas and lunch with my publisher. This is always my busiest time of year too, as I spend the dark season writing all the various projects that are due to be published in the following year (and there are some exciting ones to come in 2024!), but I like to make sure I have some fun outings to look forward to. It gives me a welcome break from my desk, gets me out of the house and helps to refill my creative well.
I hope that you get to go to the theatre or ballet this dark season, but if you can't, for whatever reason, you can currently find Mathew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty free to watch on You Tube by clicking here, though I don't know how long it will be available.
Enjoy theatre season in whatever way you can!
BB Marie x
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