By Sarah Skubala
Off the back of their sell-out season of Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon, Queensland Ballet will be presenting their sister company Shanghai Ballet’s production of Derek Deane’s The Lady of the Camellias, following a short return season of Coppélia at HOTA on the Gold Coast. In an interesting twist, it is often thought that the story of The Lady of the Camellias was a key inspiration behind Coco Chanel’s fascination with the flower, which went on to become her signature bloom.
Acting Artistic Director Greg Horsman reflects on the success of Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon ahead of their remaining 2024 season and eagerly anticipated 2025 season launch.
Did you have any idea that Coco Chanel would be such a resounding success?
To be honest, when we started talking about this co-production way back in 2018, I questioned whether something like that was going to attract an audience. Then I went over last year to see the premiere with Hong Kong Ballet, and I thought it was an absolutely stunning production. I hoped audiences would come and see it, and of course, the entire season sold out ahead of opening night, which was just amazing. I think what we have done is attracted people who wouldn’t normally go to the ballet and people who are into fashion or know a little bit about Coco Chanel. But we couldn’t be any happier; it has been an amazing season.
What can you tell us about The Lady of the Camellias and your partnership with Shanghai Ballet?
When we did our China tour of Liam Scarlett’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2018, Shanghai Ballet presented Queensland Ballet on that leg of the tour. It was going to be reciprocated with them coming to Brisbane in 2020, but COVID put a stop to a lot of things that had been planned. This was the earliest that we’ve been able to organise for that to be happening, so we are presenting Shanghai Ballet with their production of The Lady of the Camellias. Derek Deane, the choreographer of the ballet, was my Artistic Director when I was a dancer at English National Ballet, and QB have done his Strictly Gershwin ballet twice now, so I am sure the pas de deux and partnering will be very good. Those who have seen it have nothing but huge praise for it, so I am really looking forward to seeing it too.
Coppélia is returning for a short season at HOTA on the Gold Coast, which is a ballet you choreographed. What can you tell us about that?
Coppélia was the first full-length ballet that I created for Queensland Ballet, so it is very special to me and the first ballet I created in Australia. I had choreographed Sleeping Beauty in New Zealand, which QB also perform now. I did a lot of work coming up with the Coppélia storyline, being able to find an Australian context to set it in, which is Hahndorf in South Australia. I would love for Coppélia to go to Adelaide, that would be really special. But I am looking forward to taking it back to the Gold Coast because when we toured it around Queensland in 2015, it was very popular there. The other nice thing is that I have brought in Lisa Pavane, who was my partner for a long time. The Coppélia that was filmed in the ‘90s with the Australian Ballet was with Lisa and me, so it’s really special to have her in the studio and working with our Swanildas.
Your 2025 season launch is not far away, and many are eagerly awaiting the news. Can you tell us anything about that yet?
We are looking forward to announcing our season for next year very soon; everybody keeps asking! It has obviously been an interesting moment for the company this year, but the nice thing is that we are all banding together, and I am glad that I was able to step into the Acting Artistic Director role for now. I am certainly enjoying being in that position, and hopefully, everyone will be excited and happy about what the season is going to look like.
https://www.queenslandballet.com.au/
Image: Jakob Perrett
