Insight: Children’s in focus at Cape Town City Ballet’s A Christmas Carol 2023

Children’s in focus- at Veronica Paeper’s A Christmas Carol Presented by: Cape Town City Ballet When: December 8-29, 2023 Where: Artscape Drama Theatre Tickets: R200-R400. Book at Artscape Dial-a-seat 021 421 7695 or Webtickets Direct booking link: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Event.aspx?itemid=1536417152 Creative credits: See https://thecaperobyn.co.za/ballet-news-cape-town-city-ballets-festive-season-2023veronica-paepers-a-christmas-carol/

Children are very much part of Cape Town City Ballet’s festive season production: Veronica Paeper’s A Christmas Carol. This is Paeper’s acclaimed creation of the Charles Dickens’ story about the hard-hearted Scrooge who in the spirit of the festive season, finds his inner kindness and humanity. The ballet premiered in 1982 and was staged in 2019 and 2021, with actor Marcel Meyer, playing Scrooge. Meyer is back as Scrooge. He brings tremendous empathy to Scrooge and is wonderful the way he interacts with the child dancers. I saw the production in 2021 and was entranced by Meyer and the youngsters in the ballet. Once again for the 2023 festive season, CTCB has a company of children dancing. The company auditioned 200 children from all over the Cape and 60 were selected. Roxy Levy is working as répétiteur with the young dancers. This production is very much geared for families and for young audiences.

Children’s Parade

There will be a children’s stage parade on December 23, after the 2pm performance. Children will be invited on stage and given goodie bags to celebrate the festive season.

Year-end festive performance

On December 29, there will be a year-end festive performance. After the ballet, there will be bonus  – a twenty minute show with choreography by Sean Bovim. This show will include excerpts from some of Bovims works, such as Swing Time and Queen @ the Ballet. There is no extra charge to see Sean Bovim’s festive offering compilation of ballets. Enjoy two shows for the price of one ticket. There will be champagne during interval, so get into the New Year vibe at the ballet.

A note on music at a Christmas Carol

This production will be danced to recorded music. It is music which is in CTCB library of music, recorded by The Cape Town Philharmonic. This production is in the Theatre at Artscape– and not in the Opera House – so there is not enough space to accommodate CTCB and the children and a full orchestra.

✳ Actor Marcel Meyer (lmiddle) is reprising his role in Veronica Paeper’s A Christmas Carol. The ballet is being presented by Cape Town City Ballet at Artscape, December 8-29, 2023. This pic is by the late Pat Bromilow-Downing, from the CTCB staging in 2021. Supplied.