Daniel Jones Diary

There's no business like snowbusiness

The beauty of stress

Arriving in Bristol on Monday October 7th was a nice feeling for two reasons. Firstly, the house that I was booked into for the next two weeks was very welcoming. It’s always quite a worry when one is staying in a place for the first time, and for one reason or another I have never found a regular place to stay from previous tours to Bristol. So here I was in new accommodation, once more, and I was feeling very comfortable (and they cooked a lovely dinner on Sunday). Secondly, being on the road meant that soon it would be time for curtain up and I would be back in that fantasy world

Daniel, as the Brigadier,
with Nutcracker designer Gerald Scarfe
photographer Daniel Jones ©

they call the stage. However, deep down, I was anticipating that the week ahead was certainly not going to be an easy ride. As with all new productions, there is always an element of stress; it’s only usually after the event that you know that the stress is all part of the beauty of it all.

There’s no business like snowbusiness

The opening night of The Nutcracker was definitely a memorable experience for all that were involved. One of the great joys about this job is you really do never stop learning, even if it is something that you may never have really needed to know. Seeing snow fall on stage at the beginning of October may have felt a little early but it was almost impossible to ignore the amazing reaction that the audience gave the company that night, and also for the rest of our performances in Bristol. It is undeniably satisfying when an audience gives you the feeling that they don’t want you to leave the stage, and that was really how it felt. Thank you, if it was you.

Sunday rehearsal memories

The Sunday morning of October 20th was time to leave Bristol and head back to my roots. In the pouring rain I headed up the M5, the M6 and then took the turning for Newcastle-under-Lyme trying very hard not to slide off the road in my little Fiesta. Once there I headed for the Mitchell Memorial theatre in Hanley where The Marilyn Jones Dance centre were having their dress rehearsal for their yearly show which was to be performed the following week. I was 4 years old when I first performed at the Mitchell Memorial theatre so when I return, it’s not a surprise that I start getting very sentimental. Over the years the show itself has developed into a three hour song and dance extravaganza, and the ages of the 200 people involved range from 2 years old to late 60’s. It was such an inspiration to see so many people having such a great time performing, and as far I could see, nobody on the stage had a clue about what the idea of being nervous was all about. They all entertained with no holding back. Fantastic…

Booing is not such a bad thing

One skill I have learnt from English National Ballet over the years is to be able to walk into the theatre in the morning and be mentally prepared to dance any role that I may not even be cast for that night. In some ways it’s a kind of skill that requires you to be ready for any challenge, at any moment. When you are on stage and something happens that shouldn’t have, your job is to make sure the last people to know are the audience. It’s not like the cameras stop, everyone laughs and you watch it on It’ll be on alright on the night episode 50 in five years time. The week in Liverpool was a time when those skills were needed, and if you didn’t have them then you probably would get them by the end of the week. It was all due to a lot of unfortunate events that lead to a very challenging week for the majority on stage. Rothbart was my personal challenge that week, and it was a great experience to play a hideous, evil, mutant, in such a beautiful ballet...

I have to say that its not often in ballet that you get booed at the end and you feel that that means it must have been a good show. But I guess that’s just part of the fun.

If you can please your own Mum…

Meanwhile, I have been in every studio that I can find, to choreograph a piece for the 25th anniversary gala of the Marilyn Jones Dance Centres. Me Mum wants me to dance, so I dance, I just hope she likes it…