Alice layout FINAL.<strong>in</strong>dd 2 22/02/2011 11:11
In the last three months there has been a tremendous buzz and air <strong>of</strong> anticipation at the heart <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> royal ballet. <strong>The</strong> reason: Alice’s Adventures <strong>in</strong> Wonderland, Christopher wheeldon’s first full-length narrative work and the Company’s first full-length ballet to a commissioned score <strong>in</strong> 20 years. For this enormous undertak<strong>in</strong>g, Christopher has chosen as his collaborators joby Talbot, bob Crowley, nicholas wright and natasha Katz. <strong>The</strong>ir exceptional talents have comb<strong>in</strong>ed to realize a magical version <strong>of</strong> Lewis Carroll’s charm<strong>in</strong>g and qu<strong>in</strong>tessentially english story. <strong>The</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the production has called on the full resources not only <strong>of</strong> the Company and <strong>of</strong> the orchestra <strong>of</strong> the royal opera House under the direction <strong>of</strong> barry wordsworth, but also <strong>of</strong> myriad brilliant departments and <strong>in</strong>dividuals, both <strong>in</strong> and out <strong>of</strong> the royal opera House, who have worked tirelessly to br<strong>in</strong>g this new work to the stage. <strong>The</strong> skill, expertise and attention to detail <strong>of</strong> all those <strong>in</strong>volved has been truly <strong>in</strong>spir<strong>in</strong>g. on behalf <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> royal ballet, I would like to express my gratitude to the many <strong>in</strong>dividuals and organizations who are support<strong>in</strong>g this production. In particular, we would like to thank <strong>The</strong> Monument Trust for its exceptionally generous gift <strong>in</strong> memory <strong>of</strong> simon sa<strong>in</strong>sbury. we would also like to thank the wide circle <strong>of</strong> production supporters whose <strong>in</strong>terest, enthusiasm and generous contributions have made such a difference to the production: sir simon and Lady robertson, robert and Kathleen wallace, sarah and Lloyd Dorfman, Celia blakey, sue butcher, Mar<strong>in</strong>a Hobson mbe, Peter Lloyd, Krist<strong>in</strong>a rogge and richard and Victoria sharp. And also those who have sponsored <strong>in</strong>dividual roles: David and Diana Pill<strong>in</strong>g, Derek and sheila watson, jill and Michael Carpenter, Cynthia brown, Lady shauna Gosl<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>The</strong> Cw Group and an anonymous donor. Alice’s Adventures <strong>in</strong> Wonderland is a co-production with <strong>The</strong> national ballet <strong>of</strong> <strong>Canada</strong>. I am very thankful to Karen Ka<strong>in</strong>, the company’s Artistic Director, for mak<strong>in</strong>g this possible, and I jo<strong>in</strong> her <strong>in</strong> gratitude for the lead philanthropic support from an anonymous friend <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> national ballet <strong>of</strong> <strong>Canada</strong>, and the additional support generously provided by <strong>The</strong> Cather<strong>in</strong>e and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, richard M. Ivey, C.C., rosamond Ivey and wallace and Margaret McCa<strong>in</strong>. Dame Monica Mason dbe Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Royal ballet Sergei polun<strong>in</strong> as the Knave <strong>of</strong> hearts All rehearsal photographs ©ROH 2011/Johan Persson Alice layout FINAL.<strong>in</strong>dd 3 22/02/2011 11:11