Mary, Queen of Scots review – bold ballet brings the royal courts bang up to date

Festival theatre, EdinburghMary births a balloon and Elizabeth I towers on stilts in Sophie Laplane and James Bonas’s production about the queens’ distant relationshipThe second half of this show is much better than the first. It’s often the way in (loosely) narrative ballet. There’s all the scene-setting and character introductions before you can get to the guts of it – the relationships, the tension, the betrayal. Scottish Ballet’s new Mary, Queen of Scots, created by choreographer Sophie Laplane and director James Bonas, stumbles in the setup. Sometimes it’s just helpful to know where we are and who’s who. How would we know this scene where the men have porky prosthetic bellies protruding from their jackets is the French court, for example?The central conceit is that this is Mary’s story told through her cousin Elizabeth I’s eyes and the creators have set themselves a challenge there: in literature, one person can easily tell another’s story, but you can’t dance someone else’s dance. Older Elizabeth (Charlotta Öfverholm), however, is the most distinctive presence on stage, frail and losing her dignity, with a sense of confusion around her. Continue reading...

Comments

Culture

Period drama branded ‘fantastic’ available to stream on Netflix

Metro

Comments

Similar News

Priscilla Presley’s ex-business partners accused her of pulling Lisa Marie’s life-support to get control of family name

Priscilla Presley’s ex-business partners accused her of pulling Lisa Marie’s life-support to get control of family name

‘She was a badass!’ – Mary, Queen of Scots becomes a feisty rock star and daring dancer

Freddie Mercury’s closest friend Mary Austin throws doubt on ‘secret child’ claims as ‘B’ speaks out for first time

Dirty Work review – a jolly holiday with Mary Floppins

Mary Poppins officially the most complained about film of 2024 over controversial slur

Mary Poppins named as the most complained about film of 2024 after rating change

Mary Poppins named as the most complained about film of 2024 after rating change

Culture

Period drama branded ‘fantastic’ available to stream on Netflix

Chase & Status at All Points East review: Three headliners for the price of one

A unique summer language course in Vermont opens the door to opera singing in Germany

Michigan is trying to attract tourists by bottling up its scents in a perfume

Bimini reveals ‘important’ moment that got cut from Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins

Jeremy Clarkson lashes out at JD Vance’s security after getting caught up in no-fly zone

Jade Thirlwall has ‘daily battle to not use Ozempic’ after cruel pregnancy comments

What the latest studies say about marriage and dating trends in the U.S. today

Sam Fender’s Manchester performance was poignant, rousing and at times emotional

Blackpink bring K-pop to Wembley – and confirm their place as megastars

Gal Gadot says ‘pressure’ to ‘speak out against Israel’ led to Snow White’s box office failure

Freaky Friday director addresses criticism of Asian representation in movie

From Bingate to collapsing cake – the 5 most scandalous Bake Off moments

Who is left in the cast of Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins?

Iconic singer, 81, looking at ‘all legal remedies’ after son’s shocking elder abuse claim

Sugar Hut, spray tans, stilettos: Towie turns 15

Book Review: ‘Strong Roots,’ by Olia Hercules

Penn & Teller’s Secret to a 50-Year Partnership

BBC iPlayer now streaming ‘mind-blowing’ Christopher Nolan film

Helen Mirren says next James Bond has to be male even though she’s ‘such a feminist’

Mark Hamill gave wife option of two countries they could move to when Trump was re-elected

Mark Chapman opens with quip as Match of the Day begins life after Gary Lineker

Strictly Come Dancing ‘brings in police’ as scandals swarm show ahead of new series

Rocky Horror forever: How a tiny US cinema helped turn a flop movie into a phenomenon

Mac DeMarco: ‘People use AI to write lyrics now. Give me a break’

Publishers issue warning on AI-created books imitating sports autobiographies

This Morning star, 40, opens up about cancer scare after finding lump

Princess Andre, 18, teases drastic career change after reality TV success as parents feud

Snoopy and the gang are back for a summer musical

Cara Delevingne on how Topshop inspired her fashion sense - as brand relaunches in London

Oasis pay tribute to Irish roots in sell-out Dublin reunion gig

Amanda Holden suffers blow as controversial Netflix show axed despite storming global charts

BBC star gags on live TV after revealing surprising food ‘phobia’

Tristan Rogers, ‘General Hospital’ Actor, Dies at 79

Strictly Come Dancing winner ‘revealed’ before the show even begins

I’m A Celebrity icon tipped to return as highly anticipated All Stars takes shape

Pop duo cancel shows after scary moment sees member collapse on stage

Dublin ‘buzzing’ ahead of Oasis’ return to Ireland

X Factor childhood sweethearts marry in gorgeous ceremony 9 years on from show

Nickelodeon star files for divorce after 4 years of marriage

From a torn vulva to an accidental C-section – the most painful reality TV injuries ever

ScotRail rolls with it in busiest 2025 week as Oasis fans flock to Edinburgh

BLACKPINK at Wembley Stadium review: The world’s biggest girl group are at the top of their game

'Wait Wait' for August 16, 2025: With Atlas Obscura, Rose Matafeo, Lewis Black, and Moe Wagner!

Disturbing horror that left fans ‘too scared to sleep’ now streaming for free

The 20 most disastrous sex scenes in film, ranked

Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper handles becoming dad again in hilariously ‘farmerish’ way

Denzel Washington shares why he doesn’t care about cancel culture

Tulisa Contostavlos says ‘N-Dubz would never have worked’ if she was middle class

‘Lots of unexpected twists and turns’: Your favourite British TV thrillers

‘The worst show on TV’ might finally be ending and viewers are surprisingly sad

First look at White Lotus star’s ‘stunning’ Marks and Spencer Christmas ad

Family launch addiction centre to honour The Vivienne

Whips, nuns and horse-rein sex – everything we know about Emerald Fennell’s wild Wuthering Heights adaptation

A look at how fan fiction is changing publishing and reading

Sophie Turner says kissing co-star in new film was ‘vile’

Strictly casting JD Vance’s pal Thomas Skinner marks a huge shift for the show

Old Fiddler's Convention is pushing 90 and keeping mountain music alive

The Fiery Mania of Dijon’s “Baby”

Always Inadequate