presents a magical tale…

SynopsisAshley Page

Synopsis

presents a magical tale…

OvertureDuring the overture we hear the two main themes of the story of the ballet expressed musically, representing good and evil; the fi rst theme is that of Carabosse, the bad Fairy, which gives way to the theme of the Lilac Fairy who is the embodiment of goodness. What is about to unfold is the struggle for a young girl’s soul between these two opposing forces.

OvertureOvertureDuring the overture we hear the two main themes of the story of the ballet expressed musically, representing good and evil; the fi rst theme is that of Carabosse, the bad Fairy, which gives way to the theme of the Lilac Fairy who is the embodiment of goodness. What is about to unfold is the struggle for a young girl’s soul between these two opposing forces.

OvertureOvertureOvertureOverture

We see the King and his Queen visiting a doctor as they are desperate to have a child. Outside his clinic, they encounter a woman with a baby and look longingly into the pram. As they pass, the woman with the baby raises her hand to bless the Queen, her cloak falling open to reveal her true identity - she is the Lilac Fairy.

We see the King and his Queen visiting a doctor as they are desperate to have a child. Outside his clinic, they encounter a woman with a baby and look longingly into the pram. As they pass, the woman with the baby raises her hand to bless the Queen, her cloak falling open to reveal her true identity - she is the Lilac Fairy.

Prologue

The Christening

& Russia

PrologueThe

Christening

Russi

Prologue

The Christening

The Christening

The &

Russia&

Russia&

PrologueProloguePrologue

The The The The Christening

The The The Christening

The Christening Christening Christening Christening

& Christening Christening Christening

& Christening

Russia RussiRussia&

Russia&

Russi&

Russia&

The scene shifts to baby Aurora’s Christening on a gorgeous summer afternoon in 1830, and the extended family of the royal couple are all assembling for a celebration on the lawn outside the palace conservatory. The infant’s parents, her nanny and the doctor all fuss over her. Six fairies from the enchanted forest have been invited to the Christening, and they arrive bearing gifts which represent the qualities embodied by each fairy: Beauty, Grace, Angelic Temperament, Song, Wisdom and most important of all, Truth and Virtue. This last value comes in the form of the Lilac Fairy herself, who is queen of the fairy world. Each fairy bestows her gift on the infant Aurora who sleeps blissfully unaware in her pram.

The scene shifts to baby Aurora’s Christening on a gorgeous summer afternoon in 1830, and the extended family of the royal couple are all assembling for a celebration on the lawn outside the palace conservatory. The infant’s parents, her nanny and the doctor all fuss over her. Six fairies from the enchanted forest have been invited to the Christening, and they arrive bearing gifts which represent the qualities embodied by each fairy: Beauty, Grace, Angelic Temperament, Song, Wisdom and most important of all, Truth and Virtue. This last value comes in the form of the Lilac Fairy herself, who is queen of the fairy world. Each fairy bestows her gift on the infant Aurora who sleeps blissfully unaware in her pram.

At the height of the celebrations, the sun is suddenly eclipsed and two grotesque creatures appear and run amok among the guests: they are Pina and Lucinda, the mutant daughters of the wicked Fairy Carabosse. Carabosse is in fact the twin sister of the Lilac Fairy, fallen from grace: at birth, she was delivered but a minute after her sister, cheating her of becoming Fairy-in-Chief, and throughout their childhood this jealousy raged until a furious row saw Carabosse cast out of the fairy nest. Now, she sees her chance to even the score with her sister and the mortals with whom the Lilac Fairy holds such persuasive power.Toying with the infant Aurora under the noses of the royal family, Carabosse pronounces a curse upon the child - Aurora will indeed grow into a ravishing beauty but, on her sixteenth birthday, she will prick her fi nger and die!

At the height of the celebrations, the sun is suddenly eclipsed and two grotesque creatures appear and run amok among the guests: they are Pina and Lucinda, the mutant daughters of the wicked Fairy Carabosse. Carabosse is in fact the twin sister of the Lilac Fairy, fallen from grace: at birth, she was delivered but a minute after her sister, cheating her of becoming Fairy-in-Chief, and throughout their childhood this jealousy raged until a furious row saw Carabosse cast out of the fairy nest. Now, she sees her chance to even the score with her sister and the mortals with whom the Lilac Fairy holds such persuasive power.Toying with the infant Aurora under the noses of the royal family, Carabosse pronounces a curse upon the child - Aurora will indeed grow into a ravishing beauty but, on her sixteenth birthday, she will prick her fi nger and die!

The King and Queen are devastated until the Lilac Fairy intervenes and reminds them that she has not yet given her gift to Aurora; she tells them that she hasn’t the power to reverse the effects of the curse completely, but she can soften it so that the young girl will not die. Instead, Aurora will fall into a deep 100-year sleep from which she can only be woken by true love’s kiss. Incensed,

Carabosse and her daughters exit the scene, and the King decrees that sharp objects shall be forbidden within the kingdom.

The King and Queen are devastated until the Lilac Fairy intervenes and reminds them that she has not yet given her gift to Aurora; she tells them that she hasn’t the power to reverse the effects of the curse completely, but she can soften it so that the young girl will not die. Instead, Aurora will fall into a deep 100-year sleep from which she can only be woken by true love’s kiss. Incensed,

Carabosse and her daughters exit the scene, and the King decrees that sharp objects shall be forbidden within the kingdom.

Act I

The Birthday Party

Act IThe Birthday

Party

Act I

The Birthday Party

The Birthday Party

The Birthday Act IAct IAct IAct I

The Birthday The Birthday The Birthday The Birthday Party

The Birthday The Birthday The Birthday Party

The Birthday PartyPartyParty

The Birthday Party

The Birthday Party

The Birthday Party

The Birthday The Birthday Party

The Birthday The Birthday The Birthday Party

The Birthday Party

The Birthday Party

The Birthday The Birthday The Birthday Party

The Birthday

It is 1846 and the Royal Family is gathered to celebrate Aurora’s 16th birthday at a champagne reception in the palace hothouse. Aurora arrives and is introduced to the four Princes who have come to court her with whom she dances.

At the climax of the evening’s festivities, three gardeners wheel in a beautiful cactus plant in full fl ower. Aurora is entranced by the exotic colour of the bloom and reaches out to touch it, pricking her fi nger on its spikes and collapsing. The gardeners tear off their disguises to reveal their true identities - it is Carabosse and her daughters, and they remind the party of the curse pronounced 16 years ago before escaping, but the Lilac Fairy reassures everyone that what she foretold at the Christening will now happen.

Aurora is made comfortable in the hothouse for her 100-year sleep and the four Princes are posted as protective guards around her, while the rest of the kingdom retires to begin the extended hibernation.

It is 1846 and the Royal Family is gathered to celebrate Aurora’s 16th birthday at a champagne reception in the palace hothouse. Aurora arrives and is introduced to the four Princes who have come to court her with whom she dances.

At the climax of the evening’s festivities, three gardeners wheel in a beautiful cactus plant in full fl ower. Aurora is entranced by the exotic colour of the bloom and reaches out to touch it, pricking her fi nger on its spikes and collapsing. The gardeners tear off their disguises to reveal their true identities - it is Carabosse and her daughters, and they remind the party of the curse pronounced 16 years ago before escaping, but the Lilac Fairy reassures everyone that what she foretold at the Christening will now happen.

Aurora is made comfortable in the hothouse for her 100-year sleep and the four Princes are posted as protective guards around her, while the rest of the kingdom retires to begin the extended hibernation.

Act 2

The Enchanted

Forest

Act 2The

Enchanted Forest

Act 2

The Enchanted

The Enchanted

The

Forest

Act 2Act 2Act 2

The The The The Enchanted

The The The Enchanted

The Enchanted Enchanted Enchanted Enchanted

ForestEnchanted Enchanted Enchanted

ForestEnchanted

ForestForestForest

100 years later, a Prince is hunting in the forest, where he meets the Lilac Fairy. She shows him a vision of the beautiful Princess Aurora with whom he dances, falling very much in love. Carabosse appears, and there is a struggle between the good and bad fairies, but the Prince swears his commitment to rescuing Aurora.

The Lilac Fairy introduces him to an enchanted Bluebird who will guide him to her. On his journey, the Prince meets four maidens who are also lost and in search of their own happy ending - Snow White, Belle, Cinderella and Red Riding Hood. They arrive together at the hothouse where the sleeping Aurora waits. The Prince at once kisses her and she wakes up. The four suitors also awaken, and are enraptured by the fairytale maidens, while the Bluebird rescues the Fairy of Song from the cage where she has been trapped by Pina and Lucinda. They leave Aurora alone with her own true love, the brave Prince who has restored her to life, and as dawn breaks, the couple dances together, falling deeply in love. A new age has begun.

100 years later, a Prince is hunting in the forest, where he meets the Lilac Fairy. She shows him a vision of the beautiful Princess Aurora with whom he dances, falling very much in love. Carabosse appears, and there is a struggle between the good and bad fairies, but the Prince swears his commitment to rescuing Aurora.

The Lilac Fairy introduces him to an enchanted Bluebird who will guide him to her. On his journey, the Prince meets four maidens who are also lost and in search of their own happy ending - Snow White, Belle, Cinderella and Red Riding Hood. They arrive together at the hothouse where the sleeping Aurora waits. The Prince at once kisses her and she wakes up. The four suitors also awaken, and are enraptured by the fairytale maidens, while the Bluebird rescues the Fairy of Song from the cage where she has been trapped by Pina and Lucinda. They leave Aurora alone with her own true love, the brave Prince who has restored her to life, and as dawn breaks, the couple dances together, falling deeply in love. A new age has begun.

Act 3

The Wedding Reception

Act 3The Wedding

Reception

Act 3

The Wedding Reception

Act 3Act 3Act 3

The Wedding The Wedding The Wedding The Wedding Reception

The Wedding Reception

The Wedding Reception

The Wedding The Wedding The Wedding Reception

The Wedding Reception ReceptionReception Reception

The Wedding Reception ReceptionReception

The Wedding Reception

The Wedding Reception

The Wedding The Wedding The Wedding Reception

The Wedding Reception

The Wedding Reception

The Wedding The Wedding The Wedding Reception

The Wedding

Scene 1

A Hotel in London

The King and Queen have awoken to a very different world to the one they knew when the great sleep began. As they dress for their daughter’s wedding, the Lilac Fairy brings a visitor to see them; it is Carabosse, and she has come to apologise and beg forgiveness. Convinced of her sincerity, the King and Queen invite her to join the festivities.

Scene 1

A Hotel in London

Scene 1

A Hotel in LondonA Hotel London

A Hotel

The King and Queen have awoken to a very different world to the one they knew when the great sleep began. As they dress for their daughter’s wedding, the Lilac Fairy brings a visitor to see them; it is Carabosse, and she has come to apologise and beg forgiveness. Convinced of her sincerity, the King and Queen invite her to join the festivities.

Scene 1Scene 1 Scene 1Scene 1

A Hotel A Hotel A Hotel ininin London London London London

Scene 2

The Reception

There is an atmosphere of excitement at the wedding reception of Aurora and her Prince; the relief of a great challenge overcome, mingled with an expectation of good things just around the corner. The celebrations are in full swing and the guests relax and dance the night away. As the happy young couple leave for their honeymoon, the King and Queen experience that parental sadness at losing a beloved daughter, but fi nd comfort in the knowledge that they have gained a new son, and the promise of a whole new family.

Scene 2The

Reception

Scene 2

The Reception

The Reception

The

There is an atmosphere of excitement at the wedding reception of Aurora and her Prince; the relief of a great challenge overcome, mingled with an expectation of good things just around the corner. The celebrations are in full swing and the guests relax and dance the night away. As the happy young couple leave for their honeymoon, the King and Queen experience that parental sadness at losing a beloved daughter, but fi nd comfort in the knowledge that they have gained a new son, and the promise of a whole new family.

Scene 2Scene 2Scene 2Scene 2

The The The The Reception

The The The Reception

The Reception ReceptionReception Reception

The Reception

The Reception

The Reception

The The Reception

The The The Reception

The Reception

The Reception

The The The Reception

The