Joanna Lumley’s visit to the arctic to see the Northern Lights, filmed for BBC television, touched on the magical experience of the aurora borealis, and this phonomena inspired me to create a ballet for NYB.
Joanna told me that her husband, Stephen Barlow, had composed an enchanting score entitled Rainbow Bear based on a children’s book about a polar bear living in the arctic, written by Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo. The delightful tale involved a multitude of animals and sea creatures, their fight for survival in the harsh arctic climate and offered huge potential to create another dramatic and innovative NYB work.

In the spirit of NYB I wanted to offer a choreographic opportunity to a talented young choreographer and six
young professional choreographers were invited to pitch. Jo Meredith (NYB alumnus) presented an impressive and detailed storyboard, cleverly linking this with Stephen Barlow’s inspiring score. Jo, who last year won the new NYB Choreographic Crystal Plate and has been tipped by
several dance critics as ‘a talent to watch’, was commissioned to choreograph Rainbow Bear for NYB.

The set and costume design is a creative area in which I like to emmerse NYB. The young dancers have seen the striking backcloth take shape and the innovative animal heads and costume designs made and fitted by talented costumiers. It has been a very exciting and rewarding season collaborating with eminent professionals from all the arts.

Jill Tookey
Artistic Director