Northern Ballet bring the story of ‘Victoria’ to life in dance

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Northern Ballet has brought the sensational story of Queen Victoria to life in dance with Victoria, a ballet by Cathy Marston.

Victoria tells the astounding life story of Queen Victoria through the eyes of her youngest child and lifelong companion Beatrice. Travelling back in time from Victoria’s death bed, Beatrice relives her memories of her mother as a secluded widow before discovering her anew as she transcribes the Queen’s intimate diaries. Wife, mother, lover, Empress; Victoria presents the various, often conflicting faces of this emblematic monarch.

Catch Victoria on BBC Four on 15 December at 11pm

Choreographer and Director Cathy Marston said: ‘Victoria’s life was full of extraordinary innovations and characters and I feel very inspired by the unusual perspective of Victoria’s daughter Beatrice, from whom we hope to discover our iconic, but nevertheless elusive subject. Responsible for shaping much of what we know of Queen Victoria today, this mother/daughter relationship will be both a historically and emotionally compelling engine for our new ballet.’

Victoria is choreographed and directed by the internationally acclaimed Cathy Marston, who also created Northern Ballet’s critically-acclaimed Jane Eyre which was nominated for a South Bank Sky Arts Award. It will be performed to live music with an original score by Philip Feeney whose previous scores for Northern Ballet include Jane Eyre and Cinderella. Sets and costumes are designed by Steffen Aarfing whose recent projects include designs for Król Roger at the Royal Opera House. Lighting is designed by Alastair West who was recently nominated at the Knight of Illumination Awards for his designs for Northern Ballet’s Casanova. Dramaturgy is by British director and writer Uzma Hameed whose previous projects include Woolf Works for The Royal Ballet. The scenario for Victoria has been written by Marston and Hameed in collaboration.

The production can be seen on BBC Four on 15 December at 11pm and then on BBC iPlayer.