A breathtakingly spectacular interpretative dance drama, based on classic opera, Carmen by Didy Veldman.
Production by Bird&Carrot Productions, presented with The Pleasance Theatre at
EICC – Edinburgh International Conference Centre Edinburgh, December 2021 World Premiere Performance and
Queen Elizabrth Hall, South Bank, London 2022.
Set and Costume Design by Nina Kobiashvili
Producer: Bird&Carrot Productions
Creative Director & Choreography: Didy Veldman
Composer: Dave Price
Set and Costume Design: Nina Kobiashvili
Lighting Design: Ben Ormerod
Projections: Oleg Michailov
Multi award-winning Osipova performs the title role of this classic tale in an exciting new version by internationally renowned choreographer and director Didy Veldman who has created the production to be performed by five first class dancers – many of whom will be familiar to dance and ballet audiences. Joining Natalia in the cast are superstars Isaac Hernández and Jason Kittelberger, as well as emerging dance stars Hannah Ekholm, and Eryck Brahmania.
In this incredible collaboration of theatre, dance and music revolutionaries, the timeless story of Carmen is reimagined.
“When you give 5 stars to a performance like this, it becomes obvious that sometimes a very special performance work comes along and using a star system to judge it by is not only inappropriate but does it no real justice.
This production of Carmen from Bird&Carrot (a creative development company by Alexandrina Markvo) in association with the Pleasance somehow manages that fine balancing act of keeping the core elements of not only Prosper Mérimée’s original story of passion, love, jealousy and murder, but also the much loved opera based on that book with timeless music by Georges Bizet. The result is wonderful re-imagining that breathes new contemporary life into Carmen as a work and Carmen herself as woman of powerful passions that we as an audience can relate to so easily.”
Carmen starring Natalia Osipova is also being developed for film format and the use of video screens in this stage production is constantly blurring the lines between this and live performance and augments an already creative set and costume design by Nina Kobiashvili. The careful use of atmospheric lighting by designer Ben Ormerod completes the perfect creative stage environment for this re-imagining of Carmen to be performed upon”.
Review by Tom King (c) 2021
ARTS REVIEWS EDINBURGH