NBT Carmen reviews Carmen Performances Didy Veldman Interview Our NBT Page Halifax plc is the national tour sponsor of NBT.

Veldman is a good actress and really brought out the cold and heartless side more than other interpreters of the role we've seen. But when she was in love she was in love - I'm afraid the bed pdd brings a lump to my throat every time. The extra dimension she added though was as a bare foot dancer dancing in a bare foot piece.

Personally I think NBT have their brains and limbs more than well enough around the choreography, but seeing Veldman dance certainly gave some extra sparkle and lift to it - the more amazing considering how few times she has danced the role. In a way it would be interesting to see Rambert tackle it as a piece but this is highly unlikely (a bit of an understatement there) and of course the dramatic side would be the challenge if it were to happen - which it won't! But it did remind one of how good it is to mix things up and produce fresh ideas and I continue to think of Carmen as one of the very finest of NBT's productions. Using Veldman was certainly an inspired choice by Christopher Gable and it's not in the standard NBT mould - if you thought there ever was one.

To return to the bed pdd I was struck by how good this would be as a party piece to replace the R&J balcony pdd that is all too often wheeled out at galas. The set is simple and it would be 'easy' to put on, but best - and to use a New Labour term - it really seems to connect with the audience and we all feel that given our teenage years again we could try some of it for ourselves. It's just impossibly romantic as they weave, bob, embrace, glow, cuddle and roll (no not like that!). And nobody is on point to remind you that these are such very different people to 'thee and me'.

It's been gratifying to see such great crits emerge for Carmen. Veldman's dancing regardless, this is a marvelous piece, presented by NBT with obvious love and skill.