WHAT would Tchaikovsky have made of this Guangdong Acrobatic Troupe of China’s interpretation of his classic ballet Swan Lake?
The company play his music and take the basic elements of the traditional story but that is very much a starting point for spectacle after spectacle.
Throwing all they have at it, the show features jugglers, magicians, unicycles, contortionists, German wheels, stilts walking, trampoline, Russian bar, pole balancing and much more.
Interspersed between feats which leave the audience gasping with wonder we follow the capture of the Swan Princess, her meeting with the Prince, his betrayal of her with the Black Swan and a final reunion between the two lovers.
Dancing is very much to the fore, particularly in the romantic duets, but the real draw of this show is the acrobatics. The Snake Contortionist who bends her body into unbelievable shapes or the Frogs who can complete an entire dance while doing a handstand just leave you wondering – how do they do that?
The leads, particularly Wu Zhengdan as the Swan Princess and Yu Wanqing as the Black Swan are truly amazing.
Ballet purists stay well away as this company do not take themselves seriously.
With men in tutus and a giant Sphinx, this is no conventional Swan Lake. But it certainly hits the mark for a fun and entertaining production.
Until Aug 27.
VERDICT: **** (FOUR STARS)