Amid predictable demands for increased funding for the arts, The Australian Ballet is setting off on its 25th ( yes, twenty fifth) international tour, this time to London. Appearing at the Coliseum, the West End’s largest theatre, the Company will present a two-week season (from July 13) of two major full-length productions: Swan Lake and Cinderella.

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake was choreographed by Graeme Murphy in an especially fruitful relationship with inspirational designer Kristian Fredrikson. This dazzling production has been much admired, including on its first UK appearance in 2005. It is a great compliment that the commercial presenters wanted this Swan Lake back again in a city that has seen a lot of swans.

Prokofiev’s Cinderella was choreographed in 2013 for the AB by Alexei Ratmansky with designs by Jerome Kaplan. A Russian emigre to New York, Ratmansky was Director of the Bolshoi Ballet from 2004 – ‘08 and is now artist in residence at the American Ballet Theatre leaving him free to choreograph for other companies including the Royal Ballet and The Australian Ballet. This year will see this Cinderella’s London debut. French born Kaplan is another inspirational designer; his bitter sweet Cinderella is derived from Surrealism reflecting the circumstances in which Prokofiev composed the score in the dark days of WW2. With support from NewsUK and Qantas, the Oz Ballet will be perfect ambassadors to the newly ‘independent’ UK.

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