On a dark and dreary winter night, Birmingham Royal Ballet Director Carlos Acosta’s 2022 revival of Don Quixote brought some warm and welcome Spanish sunshine to the Hippodrome stage!

This fun-filled and charming ballet is based on Miguel de Cervantes’ 17th-century novel about an elderly nobleman - the titular character - who loses his sanity due to an obsession with chivalric romances, and dreams he is a knight-errant. Along with his loyal friend & servant, Sancho Panza, he sets off on a wild, misguided adventure to defend the helpless, and to win glory for Lady Dulcinea, a creation of his deluded mind.

The central theme of this ballet is a love match between a young, impoverished barber, Basilio, and Kitri, the feisty daughter of Lorenzo, an innkeeper. The young couple wish to marry but are forbidden by Lorenzo, who wants his daughter to marry Gamache, a rich, foolish nobleman.

Basilio and Kitri run away together to get married, but are pursued by Lorenzo and Gamache, followed by Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Thus the three-act ballet unfolds, treating the audience to fantastical scenes in a magical garden, a Spanish tavern, a gypsy encampment, and a Spanish town square. Look out for Don Quixote’s terrifying vision of a monstrous windmill, and the marvellous silver-veined tree in the dream scene in the magic garden.

Original music by Ludwig Minkus, and new arrangements for Carlos Acosta by Hans Vercanteren - featuring live guitar music and exciting Spanish rhythms - were all expertly performed by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Impressive sets and costume designs by Tim Hatley, alongside innovative video designs by Nina Dunn, helped create an enchanting backdrop to Acosta’s impeccable choreography.

Performing Don Quixote is a challenge for any major ballet company, since it requires a huge corps de ballet and includes many difficult solo roles. Each individual dancer portrayed their character perfectly. Of particular note were Jonathan Payn and Olivia Chang-Clarke, who brought fantastic comic timing to their portrayals of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza respectively.

Genevieve Penn Nabity (Guest Principal from The National Ballet of Canada) and Mathias Dingman, as Kitri and Basilio, shared a wonderful chemistry, beautifully expressed through their exceptional dancing and acting skills. August Generalli’s Gamache was egocentric and thoroughly obnoxious, so much so that there’s little wonder Kitri found him completely unattractive, despite his wealth!

Last but not least, the ensemble piece of the Dryads - female nymphs dressed in stunning white & gold tutus - was beautifully synchronised and hugely memorable, with Lucy Wayne brilliantly dancing the role of the Queen of the Dryads.

Don Quixote is a thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced ballet that’s perfect for seasoned ballet-goers and newcomers alike. Artfully combining humour and romance with complex and intricate contemporary and classical ballet routines - all requiring great acting skills - the production is an example of BRB at its very best and is well worth an evening of your time.

Five Stars

BRB’s Don Quixote was reviewed by Sue Hull on Thursday 12 February at Birmingham Hippodrome, where it shows until Saturday 21 February