The Acrobatic Swan Lake at Sadler’s Wells

“Dong!” And so begins The Acrobatic Swan Lake, brought to you by Joyway London Ltd at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in Angel. A never-before-seen rendition of Tchaikovsky’s classic performance, the audience were delighted by the opening act of dancers adorned in traditional Chinese clothing parading around their Swan Princess across a misty lake. Through this scene, we are introduced to our main antagonist, the Hawk King, who attacks the White Swan, alerting a Prince in the West who must travel to the ancient city of Chang’an to save her. Through the exquisitely executed staging and backdrops, we are transported into a whole other realm of imagination, akin only to what’s behind the looking glass in Alice in Wonderland.

Throughout the one hour-45 minute runtime, spectators could be heard audibly gasping at the seemingly impossible feats of acrobatics and ballet hybrid, including cleverly hidden pieces of technology combined with pure skill; hoverboards were discreetly hidden underneath swan dresses to give the appearance of floating women, which ultimately created a beautiful spectacle causing lots of “oohs” and “aahs” to be heard throughout the crowd. As the Prince travels to save the Swan Princess, we are introduced to a multitude of additional characters that add to the wondrous fever dream-like state – jesters, dancers dressed as frogs, a snake performer and an Ancient Egyptian ensemble, to name a few.

With an atmosphere and set design like no other, it was impossible not to be mesmerised by the performance. Complete with huge backdrops of different stunning landscapes, such as the Hawk King’s nest and the enchanted woodlands, the artistic vision that can be seen here is unparalleled. The physical voyage of the prince is conceptualised beautifully by a man on a beam waving as though he is a flag. Props are used in the form of hats, juggling and ladies in balloon trousers twirling in sync.

Throughout the show, the costumier (Zhang Yue’er) boasts her genius as each of the outfits worn lit up underneath the stage lights with the most dazzling glitters reflecting like prisms. As the dancers performed impressive feats of both strength and agility, practicality and flair were seen in all of the costumes. A winning combination of magic and Shakespearean-esque comedy is also present throughout.

As the curtains begin to draw to a close, the audience saw the impossible – the Swan Princess standing on pointe atop the Prince’s head, causing a visceral reaction from every single person in the stalls; although not without imperfection, this performance is a once in a lifetime experience that cannot be missed. The entire cast shone, with a particular stand-out being Sun Yina who personifies Odette dazzlingly. And with another beat on the gong, the curtains closed on this extraordinarily magnificent production.

Scarlett Bruin

The Acrobatic Swan Lake is at Sadler’s Wells from 21^st until 29^th June 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.