La Fille mal gardée The Royal Ballet

Ever since its triumphant premiere in 1960 Frederick Ashtons La Fille mal gardee has been treasured as one of his happiest creations his artistic tribute to nature and an expression of his feelings for his beloved Suffolk countryside Marianela Nunez and Carlos Acosta perfectly portray the young lovers Lise and Colas determined to thwart the plans of Widow Simone to marry off her wayward daughter to Alain the simple son of wealthy Farmer Thomas Osbert Lancasters colourful picturebook designs along with Ferdinand Herolds tuneful score arranged by John Lanchbery provide the perfect setting for Ashtons blissfully bucolic ballet complete with haywain pony maypole and ribbons a cockrel and his chickens and of course the famous clog dance here wonderfully led by William Tuckett as the irascible but lovable Widow Simone