The Tales of Beatrix Potter (ballet)
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The Tales of Beatrix Potter is a 1992 ballet adapted for stage by Anthony Dowell from the 1971 film The Tales of Beatrix Potter that was choreographed by Frederick Ashton that in turn was based on the children's books by Beatrix Potter.
Adaptation for the stage
It is reported that Ashton himself did not want his original 1971 film to be transferred to the stage.[1] However, in 1992 Anthony Dowell did create an adaptation of the film. Dowell worked with the original film designer Christine Edzard and mask-maker Rostislav Doboujinsky.[2] The Tales of Beatrix Potter premièred on stage at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 4 December 1992 in a double bill with Ashton's ballet The Dream.[3][4]
Score
The composer was John Lanchbery,[5] he put together a score from tunes by Minkus, Balfe, Offenbach, Sullivan and others.[6] Lanchbery not only composed the score but also conducted the orchestra for the 1992 production.[citation needed] Ashton's original film score had been stored on transparencies which had suffered from damp and rodent damage, so they had to be painstakingly pieced together for the stage adaptation.[7]
Costumes
One of the challenges faced by the dancers in the stage production is that the costumes mean that many of the dancers have severely restricted view.[8] The masks created from the original 1971 film moulds[9] are made from polystyrene with holes drilled for breathing and vision are covered in gauze and flocking or hand sewn hair.[10] Doboujinsky built some of the costumes on everyday items such as cycle helmets.[11]
