Inspired by three different Virginia Woolf novels -  Mrs. Dalloway, Orlando and  The Waves, Wayne McGregor wrote the 3 Acts of “WoolfWorks”. McGregor also sprinkled elements from Woolf’s essays, letters  and diaries into his work. The production won the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Classical Choreography and the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production. Woolf had a mercurial existence similar to Don Quixote and Pablo Pancho she constantly struggled against her own windmills and in 1941 she walked into the River Ouse not to return.

 

The first act – influenced by Woolf’s novel “ Mrs . Orlando was the most emotional and took you into the rollercoaster of Woolf’s emotions, you could palpably almost feel her moods and her perpetual self inquisitions. It took you to the heart of where she was. It felt a little like trespassing. This is the power and beauty of great art and the Royal Ballet took you there.

 

The second Act, inspired by “Orlando”, had exquisite costumes and used an amazing combination of light and shade interplay to convey the mood and cause the audience to question and to look further into Woolf’s mind. It felt a bit like “down the rabbit hole” – if you kept watching you became part of the mystery.

The third Act, inspired by “The Waves”, seemed darker and more sombre and you could feel Woolf appearing but slowly fading. A web of emotions wove their way through the theatre and back into the waves ( appearing like the dark stormy Irish sea on a huge screen at the back of the stage).

 

The musical score was perfect and the dancers were at the top of their gifts.

 

The curtain finally went down and there was a 10 minute standing ovation.  The whole company, including the Director and Choreographer came onstage and basked in the audience’s adulation.  Another triumph for the Royal Ballet.

 

Reviewed by Donald Gunn