Ballet brings old faces and new

A ballet being performed by the Gillian Francis’ Academy of Dance will bring old talent and new together in a night to remember.

Coppélia will be making its way to Nelson’s Theatre Royal next Thursday.

The ballet follows Doctor Coppélius, played by Gerry Kool, a mad scientist who constructs a doll named Coppélia, played by Lydia Fitzgerald and Tessa Barnes.

The doll sits reading and never speaks to anyone until a local boy falls for her.

Despite being engaged to another woman, Franz, played by Callum Phipps, falls deeply in love with Coppélia where understandable chaos ensues.

The Nelson shows will boast an impressive cast including retired dancer Gerry Kool, who hasn’t been on stage since the 1980s.

“It’s fantastic, it’s been very exciting. I haven’t been indulged in a long while,” he says.

Gerry used to be a part of the Dutch National Ballet before travelling the globe and performing with companies from San Francisco to Sweden.

“I’ve loved picking it up again,” he says.

Another professional to star in the production includes Callum Phipps who Gillian Francis herself spotted in a recent production of the Nutcracker.

“I love Nelson, I’ve performed a couple of times here and it’s been great,” says Callum.

Originally from Australia, Callum is a Wellington-based dancer who graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 2019.

He has been working as a freelance dancer ever since.

The starring role as Coppélia the doll will be shared between two talented locals, Lydia Fitzgerald and Tessa Barnes.

Coppélia is on at the Theatre Royal from Thursday, August 26 to Saturday, August 28. Tickets are available here.