Suzhou Ballet Theatre (SBT) will restage Coppelia, an adaption from a comic ballet of the same name which, premiered in Paris in 1870, has remained one of the best-loved classical works in the ballet repertory. The SBT version of Coppelia was produced in 2011 and last performed in 2014. Tickets for three performances at Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre from Dec 14 to 16 are now on sale.

 

Coppelia is full of humor and ballet mime. It is about a girl named Coppelia who sits on her balcony all day reading and never speaking to anyone. A boy named Franz falls deeply in love with her and wants to marry her, even though he is already engaged to another woman. His fiance, Swanhilda, sees Franz throwing kisses at Coppelia. Swanhilda soon learns that Coppelia is actually a doll that belongs to Doctor Coppelius, the mad scientist. She decides to impersonate the doll, in order to win Franz’s love. Chaos ensues, but all is soon forgiven. Swanhilda and Franz make up and get married. 

The SBT version boasts audacious incorporation of modern elements in stage design, costumes and music. Wen Shaowei, a dancer who was once a member of the National Ballet of China and joined SBT after watching its Coppelia performance in Shanghai in 2014, will be the male lead, and 16 kids recruited earlier from around Suzhou will participate in the performances on Dec 14 and 15.