Snow White: The Sacrifice
director & choreographer Liv Lorent
writer Carol Ann Duffy
performers Virginia Scudeletti, Caroline Reece, John Kendall, Aisha Naamani, Geoff Hopson, Toby Fitzgibbons, Berta Admetlla, Montaine Ponceau, Cameron Woolnough, Cato Kendall Muniesa, Tassia Sissins
narrator Sarah Parish
costumes Libby El-Alfy, Nasir Mazhar
set Phil Eddolls • lighting Malcolm Rippeth
Sadler's Wells East, Stratford • 18.Apr.25 ★★★★
A family friendly version the
Snow White fairy tale ran all week at Sadler's Wells East, but on Friday night it became
The Sacrifice, a darkly grown-up take that doubles down on a woman's psychological battle against ageing and invisibility. This is a bold and eye-catchingly inventive staging of the familiar story, performed with skill and flair by the balletLORENT company, accompanied by 10 children from a local dance workshop. And its central themes come through with wit and strong emotion.
As the iconic story unfolds, it's clear that this isn't going to be your usual child-friendly version of the Brothers Grimm classic. Indeed, it harks back to the 1812 original version, with the widowed Queen (Caroline Reece) unable to cope when she discovers that a possible suitor is more interested in her teen daughter Snow White (Virginia Scudeletti) than in her. And then her magic mirror (Aisha Naamani in a gorgeous performance of dance and movement in a silver bodysuit) confirms that Snow White is kinder and fairer, prompting the Queen to plot murder.
All of this plays out on a clever set designed like a giant vanity topped by the shimmering mirror. Music and lighting add fantastic effects, along with Sarah Parish's insinuating voiceover narration. As the set rotates to transform into the woodlands, we follow the Huntsman (John Kendall) as he is ordered to kill Snow White, grappling with his conscience in an astonishing nighttime dance joined by a stage full of creatures. Then Snow White runs into seven miners, and has further adventures in their home, including two more attempts on her life by the jealous Queen. Suffice it to say that there are several surprises in the storyline.
Through all of this, the show never flinches from violence or lustiness, rendered through expressive choreography and creative costumes, props and lighting. And there's comedy and romance too, from the lively bubble bath with the miners to a swooning death dance. The talented dancers perform the tricky choreo beautifully, creating vivid characters and situations that pull us into the story. This helps convey unusual resonance through the big feelings that are on display, as well as the larger parallels with self-image issues like social media and the quest for eternal youth.
When things aren't too scary or sexy, the children return to the stage, integrated fully with the other dancers in impressive group numbers. This provides a series of dazzling sequences that swirl around the stage in a flurry of activity. A gorgeous combination of theatre, dance and storytelling, this is a first-rate production that will hopefully to return for run after run. It's well worth catching this adult-oriented take on the story if you get the chance.
For details, SADLER'S WELLS >photos by Luke Waddington and The Twins • 18.Apr.25
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