Children from Heathbrook Primary School in Clapham, Lambeth are taking to the stage at the Southbank Centre later this month, where they will perform in a critically acclaimed production of the evergreen fairy story Rapunzel.
The seven children, all aged between eight and 10, will join the cast of contemporary dance theatre company balletLORENT’s award-winning production, which is being staged as part of the Imagine Children’s Festival on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th February.
The year three and four children will be part of an impressive line-up of talent behind Rapunzel, which features costumes by award-winning designer Michele Clapton (Game of Thrones; The Crown; Mamma Mia), a classical soundtrack by Murray Gold (Dr Who; Gentleman Jack; It’s a Sin), and narration by leading British actor Lesley Sharp (The Full Monty; Scott and Bailey; Three Girls).
The children were selected following a workshop staged by balletLORENT at Heathbrook Primary, organised by the school’s creative lead and full-time qualified music teacher Savi Bale.
She says: “balletLORENT contacted us to ask if they could come and stage workshops at the school, and select nine children to take part in the Southbank shows. We recognised it was an amazing opportunity for them to experience a professional dance company and take part in fun and creative activities, which fit with our school’s vision of providing our pupils with wonderful opportunities.
“All of the children in years three and four took part in the workshops, which were staged over two days. They loved reacting to the moods of different types of music, pretending to be creatures and creeping around or jumping up and down, and using props like ribbons and ropes.”
After the workshops, balletLORENT selected ten children to take part in the performances of Rapunzel at the Southbank Centre.
“Some of the children who were selected to take part were quiet and reserved, so it’s been wonderful to see them come into their own when they’re performing on the Queen Elizabeth Hall stage,” says Savi. “They adore the costumes and are jumping up and down with excitement.”
And, despite appearing at one of the UK’s most prestigious venues, the children are taking it all in their stride.
“The best bit is being on the stage wearing the costumes,” says nine-year-old Martha. Alice, eight, adds: “The stage is huge!”
For Amelle, also eight, “The best bit is when we play with the ribbons on the stage.”
“We pretend we’re kids in the winter playing around in the castle,” says 10-year-old Anaiah.
For Genesis and Constantine, both nine, the experience is simply “So cool!”
With its dark beauty and raw emotion, balletLORENT’s Rapunzel is closer in spirit to the Brothers Grimms’ original story than Disney’s Tangled. And though eminently suitable for audiences aged from 5+, the show has plenty to appeal to older children and families.
In balletLORENT’s version of the timeless tale, specially written by former poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, a flame-haired Rapunzel becomes entrapped in the tower with only a possessive witch and her pet creatures for company. A prince, drawn by the sound of her singing, attempts to rescue her, but they end up rescuing each other.
The story turns the familiar allegory, first published in 1812, inside out by exposing the hidden voices of secondary characters. Vistas shift as we become privy to the forgotten perspectives of the childless witch and Rapunzel’s bereft parents, whose hopes and fears for their stolen child are explored through hypnotic dream sequences, which feature real babies and toddlers, who take to the stage alongside their real life mums.
Liv Lorent, artistic director, balletLORENT, said: “Rapunzel is the story of a wife and a witch both desperately wanting a baby, and relates a powerful urgency towards this quest, which is suitable for a family audience.
“It is a big story of beautiful adolescent Rapunzel who longs for freedom from an overprotective mother. She is trapped, but eventually is free and builds her own new life.
“It is told from a female perspective and made through the female gaze.”
Ballet Lorent’s Rapunzel – part of the Imagine Children’s Festival
Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XX
Friday 17 February 6pm and Saturday 18 February 11am and 4pm
Tickets: adults £18, children £13.50
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/family-young-people/rapunzel
