**********************************************************
Switzerland's highly acclaimed Geneva Ballet will visit Hong Kong this week for performances of a new representation of Shakespeare's eternally appealing tragedy "Romeo and Juliet".
The story begins with Juliet's funeral before switching back to the town of Verona, which is echoing with the sounds of fratricidal fighting between two opposing families - the Capulets and the Montagues. But, at a ball, Romeo, a young Montague, falls in love with Juliet, a young Capulet, and the two share tender vows under the girl's balcony. Sometime later, Juliet's cousin Tybalt provokes Mercutio, a close friend of Romeo, and kills him in a duel. Mad with rage, Romeo kills Tybalt. He is condemned to exile.
To reunite the two lovers, Friar Laurence proposes a solution to Juliet. First, she must take a powerful narcotic that will make her appear to be dead. Once she is taken to the family vault, she will wait for Romeo, who will come to meet her, so that they can escape together. Unfortunately, on the fateful night, Romeo enters the tomb of the Capulets without having been warned of the subterfuge. Convinced that his Juliet is dead, he takes his life. When the girl wakes up it is too late. She, in turn, takes her life.
In 1962, to honour its reopening after a devastating fire, the Grand Théâtre de Genève created its own ballet company - the Geneva Ballet. From its beginnings, the company has been dedicated to illustrating the plurality of style in 20th century dance and has worked with many renowned artists. In 2009, choreographer Joëlle Bouvier created a contemporary version of the classical ballet "Romeo and Juliet" for the company and the production was met with critical acclaim.
"Romeo and Juliet" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It will take place at 8.15pm on July 19 and 20 (Friday and Saturday) and at 2.30pm on July 21 (Sunday) at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $160, $260, $360 and $460 are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20 per cent is offered for the group booking package.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/program_251.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:24
NNNN