Ballet Cymru perform Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' at the Exeter Northcott Theatre on Friday 22 June Soprano Val Howels writes in

Emily Pimm Edwards is Miranda*

Diasuke Miura is Caliban*

Many thanks to a well-known local musician, opera soprano Val Howels, for a mini review of last Friday's ballet at the Northcott Theatre.


[Ballet Cymru went on to perform their interpretation of Roald Dahl's 'Little Red Riding Hood' and 'Three Little Pigs' on Saturday night.]


"The Ballet was absolutely wonderful. I've never seen Shakespeare performed as a ballet before and I loved it so much. The dancers imparted such expression and emotion, as well as awesome technique. The choreography was imaginative and tailored to each character's personality to great effect."


"The dancer who plays Caliban must presumably be a gymnast as well as a trained dancer. He performed such athletic feats on stage, portraying the characteristics of grotesqueness with awkward movement and angularity."


[Caliban is played by Daisuke Miura from Tokyo, a graduate from Ballet West ,who is currently studying for an MA in professional practice at Trinity College London. Previously, Daisuke was with the Serbian National Ballet. Now living in Newport, he is a regular member of 'Ballet Cyrmu'.]


"Humour, of course, was in evidence.


"Such strong performances - they were all wonderful.


"Occasionally little extracts of text would appear on a sail/screen.


"A video of lashing waves and rain was also initially used, at the start of the performance.


"Sibelius provided the music!


It was a feast."

* Photographs: Ballet Cymru publicity