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Christopher Marney directs and choreographs Hotel Follies - a new full-length production in the style of the dance revue - at the Arts Theatre from 26-30 August. The entire theatre will be used fascinatingly with performances taking place in all parts the building, for just five performances at 7.30pm each evening.
The Arts Theatre, an intimate West End venue, is ideal for Hotel Follies, where the entire theatre will be dressed in period. Highlights of the evening will be a chance to see a duet from an early Matthew Bourne work - Town & Country - and a special guest performance by Doreen Wells.
Christopher Marney, who also performs, has danced with New Adventures, Michael Clark Company and Balletboyz among others. “I am thrilled to be presenting Matthew’s duet as well as working with the enchanting Doreen Wells, and am excited to introduce new talents from the dance and musical theatre world.”
Hotel Follies centres on its guests, each of whom is an artiste lodging at this renowned hotel, eager to succeed and entertain with a song to offer, a dance to share and a story to tell. Through interaction with the star-struck bellboy or the uptight maid, the atmosphere will sweep the audience back in time to those heady post-war days of the 1940s when anything and everything seemed possible.
Artists include Doreen Wells - a principal with The Royal Ballet throughout the 1960s, who has been persuaded to come out of retirement for this production - and Jason Piper, who played ‘lead swan’ in Bourne’s Swan Lake. Other ‘guests’ will arrive from Rambert Dance Company, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and Northern Ballet, as well as various artists from the hit musical Cabaret, singing live. There will be a new interpretation of Moira Shearer’s solo from The Red Shoes performed by Malgorzata Dzierzon of Rambert Dance Company, a pas de 6 of macho bravura set to a wickedly updated Bayadère plus special variety acts. Other pieces will be set to the music of various composers including Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter and Edith Piaf.
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