Christopher Walker reviews Giselle at Sadler’s Wells

Visually stunning. Indeed – simply outstanding.

Akram Khan’s artistic genius is quite capable of occasionally misfiring as we witnessed last year in The Jungle Book. The political posturing got in the way of his choreography, and the poor dancers were reduced to miming while doing precious little else with their bodies.

So, it is good to be reminded of just how great that genius can be with a revival of his reimagined Giselle.

The political posturing is still there. In this version “Giselle is one of a community of migrant garment factory workers (the Outcasts).”

Indeed, if anything, it is even more batty. “Dispossessed of their jobs by the factory’s closure and separated by a high wall from their hopes of livelihood and security, the Outcasts function as little more than exotic entertainment for the factory Landlords.” Really? One can only assume Khan had some bad experiences in his first rental flat in London. Didn’t we all.

But the twisted updating of the plot somehow works, and Khan is able to claim reference to globalisation and the poor employment practices his parents experienced in Bangladesh.

Anyway, the visual landscape he has created is breath-taking. Carefully crafted tableaux succeed each other.

As is the dancing – hoorah! Fernanda Oliviera plays Giselle, a droopy factory girl pursued by two different men. Hilarion, a factory foreman who Erik Woodhouse dances with superb aplomb and extraordinary elasticity. And Albrecht, brought to life by the very muscular Aitor Arrieta. Indeed, one can’t help thinking Giselle is a very lucky girl.

However, Albrecht is one of the wicked factory landlords disguised as an honest worker. All goes wrong when his girlfriend Bathilde turns up. Indeed, with her model looks and clothes by Tim Yep to match, one wonders why he wandered.

In Act Two we meet Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis – ghosts of factory workers who seek revenge for the wrongs done to them in life, Angela Rayner like.

Sangeun Lee is superb dancing on points. Next to the diminutive Giselle she appears seven feet tall. No wonder the men get the willies.

To follow Khan’s work go to https://www.akramkhancompany.net/production/touring-productions/

Pictured top: English National Ballet in Akram Khans, Giselle (Picture: Camilla Greenwell)