You’ll need to be quick if you want to catch the ENGLISH YOUTH BALLET latest production at the New Theatre in Cardiff. There are only three performance of CINDERELLA IN HOLLYWOOD, so our advice is to grab your ticket as soon as you can.
This is an all out lavish production starring 6 international principal dancers and showcase the talents of 70 young dancers from the local area. Set in the glamorous era of 1950s Hollywood movies, this lavish production draws its inspiration from the film star Grace Kelly who met Prince Rainier of Monaco at a press party and later married him.
Cinderella is a seamstress on a film set and the Fairy Godmother is her late mother – a former movie star of the 1930s. Her wicked sisters are Hollywood starlets competing with each other for starring film roles. The Prince meets Cinderella at the press party but at midnight she flees from the scene leaving a sparkly silver pointe-shoe as the only clue to her identity.
OLIVIA TREVELYAN RICHARDS is making English Youth Ballet (EYB) history as she is the company’s first young dancer ever to return to the company as a professional principal dancer. She’ll be starring in the titular role of Cinderella in Hollywood, EYB’s upcoming production of at New Theatre Cardiff.
Olivia grew up in Cyn Coed Cardiff, and by the age of 13, she danced with EYB in Cardiff in a production of Giselle. At this time, she was training at the Mandy & Shirley Morris School of Dance. She graduated from Central School of Ballet and was offered a professional principal contract with EYB in 2021.
But it’s far better if Olivia tells us all this herself, so we put a Zoom call in to her to talk about her dancing career to date, and of course the production of Cinderella.
Just one thing to point out, the occasional noise in the background were builders working next door, wh clearly wanted to be part of our interview.
Also in this production of Cinderella is 17 year old GWENNAN STAZIKER from St Nicholas in Cardiff. Another talented young cast member who is currently training at the Mandy & Shirley Morris School of Dance. Gwennan is excited to be dancing with Olivia (who has been an inspiration to her).
Gwennan told us……..
“I remember being in the wings during one of our ballet school shows and watching Olivia dance a very challenging variation. I was totally in awe of how effortlessly she executed all of her movements — particularly her fouettés en pointe, which are legendary in our school. Olivia was always very kind and friendly to us younger dancers, which encouraged us to work harder in our classes.
Olivia has always inspired me, and as I watch her rehearse for this production I recognise the talent and dedication she’s always possessed. I love watching her practice her pas de deux with Rupert — I can tell it’s going to look beautiful on stage. I can only aspire to be like her one day.
I was thrilled to be given a solo part in this production. I love a good challenge and the choreography I’m learning is quite different to anything I’ve done before! I’m used to very classical repertoire, so it makes a refreshing change to try a more jazz-inspired style of ballet. I’m very grateful for this opportunity, and I’m making the most of every moment!”
The music in Cinderella in Hollywood stylishly combines Shostakovich jazz suites with tunes from Hollywood films, Tea For Two, China Town and Dancing In the Dark. This promises to be a dazzling production with stunningly striking costumes and wonderful dancing.
English Youth Ballet perform full length productions of classical ballets with professional principal dancers in the leading roles in regional theatres across the UK, giving young dancers outside London an opportunity to perform within a professional setting.
The production gets to the New Theatre in Cardiff rom tomorrow (Friday 19th August) at 7:30pm. There are two shows on Saturday, one at 2:30pm and then again at 7:30pm. Tickets range from £20 to £28 with a variety of concessions. To get your, just go HERE or you call the Box Office on 0343 310 0041.
