Queensland Ballet's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Will Tour Melbourne and China

Queensland Ballet affirms its standing as one of Australia's leadings arts organisations with the exciting announcement that its acclaimed production of A Midsummer Nights Dream will have its Melbourne premiere this October, followed by a three week tour of China in November.

Choreographed by the brilliant and much in demand Liam Scarlett, A Midsummer Nights Dream's eight performances at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre mark the company's Melbourne debut. "We're very proud to present this co-production with Royal New Zealand Ballet, and I'm thrilled to bring Queensland Ballet back to what was my first home in Australia", says Artistic Director Li Cunxin. "Melbourne audiences are very culturally savvy and love dance so I look forward to showcasing the talent and versatility of our dancers."

Shakespeare's most popular comedy, A Midsummer Nights Dream follows the adventures of four young lovers, their misadventures in love and their interactions with the mischievous woodland fairies and forest sprites. Li describes it as a piece "about relationships, tolerance, exploration, misunderstandings and forgiveness, all things we face almost daily."

Audiences can expect to be transported by Shakespeare's magical story, Mendellsohn's stunning musical score, fantastical sets and costumes by distinguished New Zealand designer Tracy Grant Lord, vivid lighting by Kendall Smith, and of course, Scarlett's spectacular choreography.

"One of a tiny group of young classical choreographers sought the world over",(The Australian), Liam Scarlett was appointed The Royal Ballet's first Artist in Residence in 2012, and has created ballets for The Royal Ballet, and commissions for New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and English National Ballet. "Liam is such a choreographic talent", says Li. "His gift for bringing stories to life through music and movement is extraordinary and our dancers could not be more thrilled to be performing his work."

A Midsummer Nights Dream's November tour to Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an and Suzhou is a natural progression for the company, which features a large number of international dancers, including three from China. The tour will also be a personal milestone for Li, as he takes the company back to where his dance journey began. At age eleven. Li was selected by Madame Mao's cultural advisors to attend the Beijing Dance Academy. He went on to join the Houston Ballet as a principal, winning multiple prizes before moving to Australia and publishing his international best- selling autobiography Mao's Last Dancer, which has received numerous awards and was adapted into a feature film in 2009. Li was also named Queensland's Australian of the Year in 2014, shortly after being appointed Queensland Ballet's Artistic Director in 2012.

In the last 5 years under Li's leadership, Queensland Ballet has undergone remarkable growth to become a major playerin the arts in Australia and is one of Australia's best Major Performing arts companies in terms of box office and income.

Queensland Ballet and Royal New Zealand Ballet present A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM Wednesday 3-Sunday 7 October 2018 Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne Bookings & info: www.queenslandballet.com.au/on-stage/2018/a-midsummer-nights-dream-melbourne-tour

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