Norwich Theatre reached a new milestone by taking its co-production of Carlos Acosta’s On Before to the States.
The show toured around the UK before heading to Sarasota, Florida Opera House this past weekend [19 and 20 April].
First conceived by Carlos Acosta in 2010, On Before is an intensely personal evening of dance created, directed, and performed by the legendary Cuban dancer. It pays homage to Acosta’s late mother and is his most personal work.
It featured choreography by world-renowned artists, including Russell Maliphant, Kim Brandstrup, and Will Tuckett, alongside Acosta’s choreography. Acosta performed as both a soloist and alongside Laura Rodríguez, a founding member of his Cuban dance company, Acosta Danza.
On Before was Norwich Theatre’s first-ever touring production and was a true statement of intent to originate and create more small and large-scale work. Since then, Norwich Theatre has toured On Before across the UK and at Festival Peralada in Spain. It has also recently announced a national tour of the brand new dance show Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana this autumn /winter.
Stephen Crocker, Chief Executive & Creative Director Norwich Theatre, said: “It’s been a fantastic experience taking our first show to America and I couldn’t be more grateful for all the wonderful people involved. We come back to the UK for the rest of the On Before tour, ahead of our world premiere of Nutcracker in Havana in November.
“When we launched our ambitious new strategy we committed that we would originate and co-produce more new work from Norwich and nothing demonstrates this more boldly than our partnership with Carlos and Acosta Danza.”
Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana offers a vibrant Cuban interpretation of the beloved festive classic. Set to a lively, newly-commissioned Cuban version of Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, arranged by Cuban composer Pepe Gavilondo, the show features more than 20 dancers from Carlos’ renowned Cuban company, Acosta Danza. This unique production brings the traditional story to life, with ballet at its core, infused with Carlos’ distinctive style and the rich dance traditions of Cuba.
The show will open at Norwich Theatre Royal on 1 Nov 24 before embarking on a UK tour, including a week-long run at London’s Southbank Centre in December 2024.
