Meadow Brown

Today we’re off to Manchester to watch ‘A Single Man’ - a ballet created as part of the Manchester International Festival. Press night is tomorrow, so we’re attending the one and only preview. 

Neither of us feel completely convinced by the piece, but both agree that Edward Watson, ex Royal Ballet principal, is superb in the title role, and that the live music is excellent -  provided by singer-songwriter John Grant and some of the superb Manchester Camerata. It’s a real treat to have live music for contemporary ballet/dance - but I’m not convinced that having the lyrics projected onto the set is needed. I guess it’s more inclusive  - and the lyrics are important - but I’m distracted by needing to read them rather than listening and watching - especially as Grant’s diction is certainly clear. 

I think I miss an open stage - the set is fixed though cleverly designed - and feel the movement is limited by these ‘walls’. This also limits the effective use of light which is so important in contemporary dance. 

The choreographer is effective, and I’m particularly moved by the pas de deux involving  Watson - in fact everything he does is superb - and the sense of loss and grief conveyed is profound. 

I’ll be interested to read the reviews after the press night - but in the meantime, here’s a pre-performance piece from The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/jun/20/john-grant-songs-ballet-single-man-christopher-isherwood-jonathan-watkins

The festival officially starts on July 3rd with so much going on - but we have so much happening over the next few weeks I suspect we won’t be able to return. 

We stop off at Tatton Park on the way to Manchester and wander in the gardens. It’s years since we’ve been there and enjoy wandering through the various sections.  Butterflies are out in force - I think I see more than I’ve seen in total over the last two years. Mostly they’re small whites, but there are also meadow browns, speckled wood, small tortoiseshells, commas - and a single red admiral and peacock - so lots of photos! There’s also the rather beautiful Japanese Garden - apparently the best in Europe! 

It’s a very late return - made later by the usual closure of motorway sections at night - so I’m even later than usual posting I’m afraid. 

My main today is a meadow brown with extras of a small tortoiseshell and a comma - plus collage of the Japanese Garden.