Review- Birmingham Royal Ballet's mixed programme

Birmingham Royal Ballet has continued to introduce new short ballets with its 'mixed programme', including a world premiere 'A Brief Nostalgia', which was also the standout performance.

Set against a dark stage and a series of white walls that cast shadows of varying lengths, the performance is billed as 'looking at the fragments of our lives'. However, with its dystopian air, the spotlights suggesting loneliness and surveillance, and the looming shadows suggesting overweening authority, the performance reminded me of another recent BRB premier- 'A sense of time'. The dancing is as beautiful as ever, and the atmosphere was tense. I hope the BRB will continue to support these new performances; it will be interesting to see the BRB's focus under its new director.

The second performance was 'the suit', based on a short story by Can Themba, An intriguing premise and plot, although I wasn't wholly convinced by the interaction between the two lead dancers. All relative, of course.

The third performance- 'Nine Sinatra Songs', was definitely the weakest of the three. I'm not sure these sings quite suited the ballet- an attempt to attract a new audience, perhaps? It is noticeable that the short ballets do not attract sell out crowds like the classical performances do. Naturally, not all new ballets are going to work, but hopefully, enough will to encourage new audiences that the theatre needs.