Review of the Classic Fairytale 'Ballet Shoes' at The National Theatre

"On the South Bank, the first major stage adaptation of Noel Streatfeild’s best-selling book Ballet Shoes, adapted by Kendall Feaver, plays at the Olivier theatre. Set in a crumbling house full of dinosaur bones and fossils, three adopted sisters are learning who they are and what they want to be. A family-friendly story for those aged 7+, Ballet Shoes directed by Katy Rudd,.

'In a crumbling house full of dinosaur bones and fossils, three adopted sisters – Pauline, Petrova and Posy – are learning who they are and what they want to be. Under the watchful eyes and guidance of their guardian Sylvia, Nana, and some unlikely lodgers, they fight to pursue their individual passions. But in a world that wasn’t built for women with big ambitions, can they forge a future, keep their family together, and even learn a dance or two along the way?" Except from Press Release

I'd wanted to see Ballet shoes from the time the Press Release was published. A classic children's story about three adopted sisters who attend a dance academy to learn to support themselves:.

A deeply moving play rich with heartache, moments of rejection, and abundant inspiration. A magnificent blend of dreams and visions, with serendipitous occurrences. A story that highlighted the significance of family, unity, and friendships that transcend blood ties. A compelling narrative about the desire to belong to something bigger than oneself. The Fossil household was a place where everyone eventually discovered their identify and experienced a sense of belonging.

Ballet Shoes was a compelling and mesmerising play. I was transported between being an adult and then that of a child. An adult I resonated with the element of responsibilities that Sylvia played by Pearl Mackie took upon her shoulders as Guardian of three adopted girls. Syliva who too had been taken into the Fossil household, had become someone in that household. Having to take on the responsibility of helping raise three adopted girls with the housekeeper. Sylvia, who went on her own journey of discovery, her imagination, her skills as an artist bloomed in an environment that cultivated unity and that of 'family'. And then as a child, I too resonated as I was taken into the magical world of finding oneself, confusion, daring to dream, dancing into my dreams and then following and experiencing those dreams.

Ballet shoes is a wonderful family story for families, because it shows the different nuances of belonging, the importance of needing a sense of belonging and the importance of having someone understand you and acknowledge you., someone to believe in you. It shows that when people are thrown together, they have the chance to fight for unity, to fight for a sense of belonging.

Grace Saif, portraying Pauline Fossil, needed to recognize her worth and significance in a household and a world where she persistently resisted acknowledging it. She resisted accepting, liking, and appreciating anything as a defense mechanism against feelings of rejection, which I agreed with. Then came an adult, Doctor Jakes, played by Helena Lymbery, a gay white woman who had been alienated and punished by those she believed loved her and by society for her identity, losing everything she cherished. Pauline Fossil and Doctor Jakes, two individuals, eventually found themselves in each other's presence, allowing them to express their true feelings and feel validated through their shared experiences of rejection for who they truly were, enabling them to thrive. By assisting Grace in advancing herself, being open to learning and improving, Doctor Jakes also reclaimed her own strength. Pauline Fossil needed to recognize her worth and significance in a household and a world where she persistently resisted acknowledging it. She resisted accepting, liking, and appreciating anything as a defense mechanism against feelings of rejection, which I agreed with. Then came an adult, Doctor Jakes, played by Helena Lymbery, a gay white woman who had been alienated and punished by those she believed loved her and by society for her identity, losing everything she cherished. Pauline Fossil and Doctor Jakes, two individuals, eventually found themselves in each other's presence, allowing them to express their true feelings and feel validated through their shared experiences of rejection for who they truly were. By assisting Grace in advancing herself, being open to learning and improving, Doctor Jakes also reclaimed her own strength.

The scene of Alice in Wonderland was one of those enchanting moments that bring fairy tales to life, and I found myself joyfully captivated. It inspired me to dream bigger, to spread my wings and aim for the moon, even if I only reached the stars. There were more magical moments and scenes that the play delved into, reigniting childish fantasies.

The dance teacher Theo Dane, portrayed by Nadine Higgin, was a flamboyantly vibrant character, full of life and its whimsical adventures. Theo Dane brought with her the wings of success and achievement; she saw and connected with Posy Fossil, the sister of Pauline, played by Daisy Sequerra. Posy was abandoned by her mother as a child, who left her with a pair of ballet shoes, symbolizing the dream Posy was destined to fulfill. Theo's influence in Posy's life gave her the drive to discover her own passion and pursue her dream of being trained to become one of the finest ballet dancers ever.

Then there was Yanexi Enriquez, who portrayed Petrova Fossil, one of the three Fossil adoptees. Petrova was a rebellious and energetic character who didn't aspire to be a ballet dancer but who wanted to find her wings and feet n a different way and felt uncertain about her destiny. This changed when Jai Saran, played by Sid Sagar, moved into the house as a tenant with a car. Petrova became fascinated with Jai's car, eager to learn about its parts, make, and how to drive it. Once more, an adult entered a child's world, someone who noticed her, listened to her, and was willing to connect with her.

Ballet shoes is a poignant reminder of the power of human connectivity. We see how purpose allows the heart to flourish and offers us all the chance of live, to truly live ore joyously, when we do what we love.

The characters were all quite remarkable. Justin Salinger, who portrayed Madam Fidolia, was notably authoritative in his role. He instructed Posy in the demanding discipline of ballet, emphasizing the immense dedication needed to excel. Through his depiction of Madam Fidolia, the audience glimpses her vulnerability (her dreams, her past), which simultaneously reveals her strength and gave understand also to her intolerance of perceived failure and her strict discipline.

All in all Ballet shoes is a wonderful tale of hope of inspiration. it takes the audience of a wonderful merry go round of life's adventures and at the crux of it all is the ode to dare to dream, to fulfil and to pursue. A tale of overcoming,

Credits:

Directed by Katy Rudd with set designer Frankie Bradshaw, costume designer Samuel Wyer, choreographer Ellen Kane, composer Asaf Zohar, dance arrangements and orchestrations Gavin Sutherland, lighting designer Paule Constable, sound designer Ian Dickinson for Autograph, video designer Ash J Woodward, casting director Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, dialect coach Penny Dyer, voice coaches Cathleen McCarron and Tamsin Newlands, associate choreographer Jonathan Goddard and staff director Aaliyah Mckay.

Ballet Shoes will play in the Olivier theatre from 23 November 2024 to 22 February 2025, with the press performance on 5 December 2024. Recommended for ages 7+.

Tickets are on sale now, nationaltheatre.org.uk