Reviewed by Beth
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review
The sequins are polished, the chandeliers are hung and it’s time to be transported to the magical Blackpool Winter Gardens at Derby Theatre this June. Kiss Me Quickstep is a love letter to The Arts, Ballroom and Latin that promises a Strictly sparkling evening.
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| Photo by Graeme Braidwood |
Written by Amanda Whittington, the story begins as Luka arrives in Blackpool for the first time and is mesmerised by the magical atmosphere it is famous for. We then follow three dance couples on the their own journey through the Amateur Dance Championships. Luka and Nancy are a new pairing; Luka has been brought to the country from Moscow by Nancy’s somewhat overbearing father Mick. Nancy is a child prodigy who is exciting for a chance to become champion yet feeling stifled by her father’s own hopes and wishes for her. Jodie and Justin are a married couple who love to dance, but are suffering financial hardships that could see their dreams dashed by the harsh realities of life and marriage. Finally, we meet current champions Samantha and Lee who are cracking under the pressure of success and with their own personal demons. As the show and the competition progress, we see the very different difficulties of each couple come to light as the individuals explore what dance means to them and consider the price of their love for it.
The performances of all actors in this production are strong. As Jodie and Justin, Hollie Jane Stephen’s and Ashley Gilmour have a realistic rapport and very much exude your typical married couple. As an audience, we root for them to do well in the competition and worry as they overcome their own personal struggles and conflict. Nancy, played by Clair Gleave, is a bubbly, happy ingenue who brings such bounce and enthusiasm, paired perfectly by the calm, grounded Luka played by Jabez Sykes. In Jason Furnival’s Mick, we see a father who cares deeply for his child but has lost sight of what is important; his child’s happiness. Finally, Isabel Snaas provides a heartbreaking performance of Samantha, dealing with anxiety, alcoholism and a loss of self, and is paired wonderfully by Matthew Jeans who adores the competitive element of dance and the voice it gave to the shy child within him. As an audience member, you truly root for every one of these characters and want to see them achieve their hopes and dreams. I did feel that the plot element of this show took a little while to get going, however once we knew all of the characters, it picked up the pace and provided real heart.
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| Photo by Graeme Braidwood. |
The absolute stand out element of the show though for me was the dance. Through the show, we saw incredible sequences of a range of styles including the Paso Doble, Jive, Waltz, Quickstep and many more, choreographed by Joanna Goodwin and Matt Gillett. As a huge Strictly Come Dancing fan, I was overjoyed to see so many wonderful routines performed with attack, skill and razzle dazzle! It at times felt like we were being let backstage of Strictly itself, which as a fan of Latin and Ballroom was a delight. The costumes used to accompany these routines were beautiful and the chandeliers in the set design made you feel like you were in the heart of Blackpool’s ballroom from the off. As many of Derby Theatre’s productions do, we also had many local references and nods including one couple’s journey from Chaddeston; always a delight for local audience members!
The message at the heart of this show was a beautiful one. It truly was a love letter to dance and The Arts and reminded us of the joy they can bring even when life throws curveballs and we face challenges. It is a reminder of what is important in dance and in life; human connection and connecting to the soul. When the lights fade and the glitter settles, the passion, the sense of belonging and the music remain.
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| Photo by Graeme Braidwood |
So, if you’re a Strictly fan or a ballroom novice, be sure to quickstep over to Derby Theatre this June for a show filled with sparkle, joy and heart. Tickets are available from https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/kiss-me-quickstep
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