For the past few years, Christmas and Ballet have been going hand in hand. Last week I was invited to join a great bunch of bloggers and journalists to watch the new Scottish Ballet production Hansel and Gretel, to say it was a magical day would be an understatement…
I battled through the wind, rain and an Orange Walk but finally made it to the beautiful Blythswood Square Hotel where we started off the day the way most Saturday mornings should, with a large gin. The room was absolutely buzzing with excitement as we ooh’d and aah’d at each others pretty pre picked ballet dresses. If there is tutu’s in the room, you have got to pull out all the stops! As we walked into lunch we were welcomed by a grown up version of a children’s tea party, gingerbread men, fruity scones and colourful macaroons and an array of crustless sandwiches topped off with a relaxing hand massage from their spa team. Oh it was just so delightful.
The Blythswood Hotel is possibly one of my favourite places to be in Glasgow, you just can’t help but feel fancy as soon as you walk in! Of course myself, Bee and our Honey Pop sneaked away for some outfit posts, which then led to some possibly inappropriate brothel chat ( I blame the breakfast gin). I felt this Zara winter floral number was just perfect for the ballet, worn with my favourite shoe of the moment, my Boohoo black toed transparent heels.
After taking lovely pictures of Honey Pop, I give the booth a whirl but then, the brothel chat begins… (we are grown ups, of course we are).
After lunch, a chat with some ballet dancers and a shed load of giggles it was off to the Theatre Royal for the matinee show. I had butterfly’s in my tummy as we all sat down looking around the beautiful setting and frantically taking pictures of the Hansel and Gretal screen in front until curtain up..
It was magical. The story, the costumes, the make up, the music EVERYTHING! It made me feel like was a little girl, swooning at the dancers wishing and hoping that one day I would be as beautiful as them. It truly does amaze me how much a character can be made with dance. Actors change their accents to embody a certain person while a ballet dancer can do the same but all in movement. That may be the most obvious point about ballet but for me it all just clicked when watching this.
Hansel and Gretal – Grown up children, was absolutely amazing!
My favourite costume, hello Grace Kelly…
My favourite scene, the movement across the stage was truly magical
A visual treat suitable for everyone and anyone, there really is no excuse to not see this show. You will leave with a spring in your step and magic in your heart, are you going to see Hansel and Gretel? Here are the tour dates:
GLASGOW
10 – 28 December 2013
Theatre Royal
Box Office 0844 871 7673
EDINBURGH
8 – 11 January 2014
Festival Theatre
Box Office 0131 529 6000
ABERDEEN
15 – 18 January 2014
His Majesty’s Theatre
Box Office 01224 641122
INVERNESS
22 – 25 January 2014
Eden Court
Box Office 01463 234 234
NEWCASTLE
29 January – 1 February 2014
Theatre Royal
Box Office 08448 11 21 21
Thank you so much for inviting me along Scottish Ballet and Blythswood Square Hotel for spoiling and stuffing us! Best Saturday I’ve had in a long time! Roll on the 2014 shows!
