Rehearsal have begun for the Norwegian National Theatre production of Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar. A powerful award winning one act play tackling identity and racism against the backdrop of Eastern, Islamic and American politics and traditions. To open in August 2019.

Directed by Marit Moum Aune

Designed by Siri Langdalen

Lighting by Simon Bennison

Costume by Ingrid Nylander

A new production of The Lady from the Sea - Ibsen. Is about to begin rehearsing for a February premiere at The Print Room. The work will be performed in Norwegian and English and is a co-production with the Norwegian Ibsen Company directed by Marit Moum Aune and designed by Erlend Birkeland.

For the Best Ballet section of the Helpman Awards this year, three quarters of the nominations and the winner was work by Lucy Carter and Natasha Katz recreated by Simon Bennison. Congratulations  to Australian Ballet winning for their production of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Congratulations to Headspace Dance Company for all their hard work setting up a new Company curated to the highest standards. Many thanks to Charley, Chris and Clemmie.

The Gare St Lazare production of How It Is Part 1 opened on Friday in London at The Print Room Theatre in Notting Hill. A continuing collaboration after previous productions of Title and Deed, and a Beckett Festival.

Here All Night for Gare St Lazare opened last week at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin prior to a tour of Ireland. The production is using the Brian O’Doherty sculpture from the installation, “Hello Sam”, previously installed in the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

The ballet Baiser de la Fée performed by Scottish Ballet at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre from October 2017, is currently available for the next three weeks on the arts section of BBC iPlayer. There is also the opportunity to see the powerful Christopher Hampson Rite of Spring, also uploaded to view.

The Scottish Ballet Le Baiser de la Fée was recently performed at The Royal Opera House Covent Garden as part of the Kenneth MacMillan National Celebration.

The Balanchine piece Tarantella was recently taken into the repertoire of the Royal Ballet Season 2016-17. Lighting designed by Simon Bennison.

New lighting design commission for a Twyla Tharp piece with the Royal Ballet. She will be reworking an earlier work ‘As Time Goes By’ with additional choreography to create a new piece called ‘The Illustrated Farewell’. Set to a Haydn symphony the original work was lit by Jennifer Tipton which will be recreated and new lighting designed for the new dance passages. Due to premiere early November in London at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.

Royal Ballet website information

A second version of Le Baisir de la Fée will be designed in a year, this time for Scottish Ballet. The choreography will be Kenneth MacMillan and a revival as part of the Macmillan Celebration being performed around the UK and at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. The sets and costumes are by Gary Harris.

Scottish Ballet website information

Currently in production week for a new version of the Stravinsky ballet Le Baisir de la Fée. Choreographed by Vyacheslav Samodurov, Set Design by Anthony Macilwaine and lighting by Simon Bennison. Opening night May 25th.

The Ekaterinburg Ballet production of Romeo & Juliet won “Best New Ballet Production” at the Golden Masks in April 2017. Choreography - Viacheslav Samodurov, Set - Anthony Macilwaine, Lighting - Simon Bennison.

The Golden mask performance of Romeo & Juliet is tonight. Wishing the best of luck to Slava, Klara and the Ballet Company.

The full length ballet Ondine for the Bolshoi Ballet has been nominated for a Golden Mask award in Best Choreography for Viacheslav Samodurov. 

There is to be a Lighting Masterclass for the UWS in Autumn 2017, at the invitation of Trent Kim BA | MA | MRes | FHEA for the Technical Theatre Department. More details to follow through the University site.

The full length ballet Romeo & Juliet for Ekaterinburg Ballet has been nominated for Golden Mask awards in Best Choreography and Best Set Design for Viacheslav Samodurov and Anthony Macilwaine respectively. The piece will be performed in Moscow as part of the Festival programme.

I’m pleased to launch a new portfolio site, please re-bookmark. Special thanks to the continued support from ADADI