IT might be dark and dreary outside, but it was sizzling hot inside Woking's New Victoria Theatre. Northern Ballet Theatre arrived in town recently with their sensational version of Carmen.

This innovative ballet company can always be relied on for some amazing dance theatre (A Christmas Carol and Dracula to name but two productions) but they have really gone to town with this sultry temptress.

Ever since Prosper Mérimée first gave life to this enigmatic character between the pages of his book in 1845 and Bizet wrote his wildly exhilarating score for his opera of the same name there have been many versions - most notable being Oscar Hammerstein's Carmen Jones.

But now NBT (National tours sponsor until 2003 by Halifax) have taken come up with something different. It has taken Carmen into the modern modern urban metropolis of Rio de Janeiro where drug sex and crime are the name of the game; a suitable background for a woman who likes to play with fire.

From the original scenario by Christopher Gable, with directed by Patricia Doyle (recently returned from Malaysia where she had been working as Children's Rehearsal Director on the feature film Anna and The King) and choreographed by Didy Veldman this is A powerful creation where classical meets contemporary ballet with harsh reality.

Charlotte Broom who dances Carmen has made this role her own - every inch a merciless seductress, oozing sex from every pore, she hunts down her man then plays with cat and mouse with him before finally spitting out the bilious remains.

Her prey, José was is danced by lithesome dark hunk Daniel de Andrade who hails from Brazil.

In line with modern music culture, NBT has turned prize bullfighter Escamillo into a rock star who make his entrance to an Rock Star Anthem - an upbeat version of the Toreador song - surrounded by screaming bimbos from downtown Rio.

And the setting for the final drama is the sleazy Bar Pastia where a huge TV screen is showing live Escamillo in concert while a provocative Carmen and a crazed José fight it out with the on/off button on the remote control until her final "fade out".

NBT's Carmen has it all. Production, choreography, dance and staging have come together to create absolutely fabulous dance theatre as confirmed by Jennifer Saunders during her recent BBC documentary on dance.

The company's winter tour is sponsored by Halifax.

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