The Secret Theatre
2020
The Secret Theatre features the choreography of Scottish Ballet founder Peter Darrell and CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson, co-directed for the screen by Jess & Morgs. With set and costumes designed by Lez Brotherston; music by Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky recorded live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra; new additional composition by Frank Moon; and performances from the full Scottish Ballet company; this Christmas special is an unforgettable adventure for all the family.
In a deserted city, a young boy stumbles into a theatre. He wanders through the auditorium, where rows of velvet chairs, draping curtains and chandeliers seem to lie in lonely wait for audiences to return. The theatre may be empty, but the show will go on…
Starring characters from our most popular festive ballets, the worlds of the Snow Queen and the Sugar Plum Fairy collide when the theatre bursts into life. In this spectacular, feature-length film, you’ll be treated to an extraordinary show filled with acrobats, snowflakes, clowns, princes and – of course – beautiful ballerinas.
The Secret Theatre was awarded Best Dance Film at the 2021 Critic’s Circle National Dance Awards.
Scottish Ballet premiere: December 2020 (World Premiere)
Creative Direction: Christopher Hampson & Lez Brotherston
Screen Direction: Jess and Morgs
Choreography: Christopher Hampson & Peter Darrell
Music: Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky & Frank Moon
Set & Costume Design: Lez Brotherston OBE
‘Scottish Ballet has unveiled a dazzling new feature film capturing all that’s good about live performance’
The Scotsman
‘An hour-long film that captures ballet’s festive twinkle and fairy-tale charm in screen-savvy manner … a definite warming of the cockles’
The Guardian
‘Enchanting, spellbinding, uplifting’
The Herald
Synopsis
In a deserted city, a young boy finds himself drawn towards a closed theatre, and stumbles inside. He wanders through the empty auditorium, where rows of velvet chairs, draping curtains and chandeliers seem to lie in lonely wait for audiences to return.
He peeks backstage and discovers abandoned and half-covered props, costumes, lights, and sets that whisper of glamorous past shows and hidden magic, urging him deeper into their mysterious world. As he reaches to lift a curtain, music starts to play and the theatre bursts into life and colour. A carnival of characters spring to life, greeting the boy and putting on an extraordinary show filled with acrobats, snowflakes, clowns, princes and – of course – beautiful ballerinas.
The boy is whisked through a series of magical scenes from a circus and a snowy forest to a glorious Christmas party. He sees himself transformed into a dancer and meets the delightful Sugar Plum Fairy; he takes her hand and they whirl through the glittering guests until a beam of light interrupts their reverie. The night watchman’s torch finds the boy and he runs from the theatre, to discover the city is back to life and bustling with people who appear strangely familiar to him…
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