ArtWorks Scotland

Peter Darrell: Scotland's Dance Pioneer (2012x5)

: 04, 2012

Peter Darrell was already a successful and ground-breaking choreographer when he became the first artistic director of Scottish Ballet in 1969. He laid the foundations for the company's current success and created a catalogue of ballets that deserve reviving. To coincide with the 25th anniversary of his death at the age of just 58, this film explores what made Darrell's work so innovative and influential with the help of dancer/choreographer Michael Clark, whom he mentored, and Matthew Bourne, who is widely considered to be the UK's most successful contemporary choreographer. Especially for the programme, Scottish Ballet restages an extract from Darrell's ballet Cheri.