SPOTLIGHT: A piquant blend of the familiar and the fresh in Paeper’s ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD

Beverley Brommert

---

"After darkness comes light" - to quote the ever-optimistic poet Guillaume Apollinaire, and in this spirit Cape Town City Ballet are about to present one of the brightest ballets in their repertoire as a luminous ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD succeeds David Nixon's darkly intriguing DRACULA.

Photo by Brenda Veldtman.

This hugely popular work first gleamed on Artscape's stage in 1982 after a gestation period of three years, as choreographer Veronica Paeper,  conductor Michael Tiffin and designer Peter Cazalet joined forces in its creation. It is now almost two decades since it was last produced, and the time is ripe for its reappearance. Recalling the early 1980s, Paeper comments wistfully on how generous the funding was in those days: "Ah, we had all the money necessary for a full orchestra at every performance, and a cast of 75 dancers, not to mention the luxury of time which enabled us to work on it from 1979 to 1982...we were so fortunate to be there." She uses the verb "percolate" ("pleasurable and tasty"!) rather than"develop" when describing the genesis of this balletic gem. 

For this new production, orchestral accompaniment will be offered for evening performances only, while Cazalet's original costumes will be featured in all their glamour, having been exceptionally well preserved along with his eye-pleasing sets. "Everything has been beautifully stored, which is as well since there is a LOT of scenery used in this ballet," says Paeper.

This does not mean, however, that a period piece of memorabilia awaits audiences; enhancement and updating of the elements used in the initial staging are introduced through the artistry of projection designer Kristi Cumming. Thus past expertise marries present, cutting-edge technology to create something memorable.

Photo by Brenda Veldtman.

It is not only the well-preserved artefacts of earlier productions that resurface for the 2026 ORPHEUS: veteran dancers who graced the stage more than 20 years ago are contributing their rich experience to promote the calibre of performance from the current generation of young dancers in their prime. Among these former principal dancers from CAPAB and Cape Town City Ballet are Keith Mackintosh, Elizabeth Triegaardt and Claire Shepherd-Wilson, mentoring Orpheus, Hera and Calliope respectively. Guest appearances in cameo roles in this latest production by Janet Lindup, Laura Bosenberg and Johnny Bovang are an additional bonus.

A piquant blend of the familiar and the fresh reflects the essence of Paeper's ORPHEUS, a tongue-in-cheek romp à la grecque set in the radiant, roaring twenties of the last century - a far cry from the mournful elegies of operas on the same theme by Gluck and Monteverdi. Paeper sums up its intention in one word: "Enjoyment!” She herself epitomises this mindset as she puts CTCB's dancers through their paces in boisterous rehearsals ahead of opening night in mid-June.

Expect a night of pure entertainment. Tickets from R250 are available from Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695 and Webtickets. There are only six performances this season, all accompanied by the orchestra except for 13 and 14 June at 14h00. Advance booking is highly recommended. 

ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD has been made possible thanks to invaluable support from The Christian Ludolph Marais Trust as the principal sponsor, as well as The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government Department of Cultural affairs and Sport, among others.