St Petersburg Ballet will perform in Mandurah.
Camera IconSt Petersburg Ballet will perform in Mandurah. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Classics still fly

Tanya MacNaughtonMandurah Coastal Times

After a stint on the stage as a child actor, he soon discovered an interest in theatre management and landed his dream job in 1967 with theatre and concert promotions company, Edgley International.

"For the next 35 years I travelled around the world, going everywhere and seeing the best shows in the most beautiful theatres," Guild said.

"It's an enormously interesting area to be in because you can work on a circus for three months, then the next minute it could be a ballet company, then a symphony orchestra or stand-up comedian."

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Guild's job with Edgley saw him spending time either in Russia or touring with Russian companies, from the Great Moscow Circus to Bolshoi Ballet, so learning the language was essential.

It has also been a practical asset since the producer's career continued with launching AG Productions in 2005, which will bring St Petersburg Ballet to Mandurah in June, performing Swan Lake and Giselle at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.

"I discovered St Petersburg Ballet about 15 years ago and worked with them on a number of tours," Guild said.

"I particularly like the company because they specialise in full-length ballets and I love to see pure classical ballet by well-trained dancers in famous works.

"Im a bit of a populist. I like the Swan Lakes, Giselles and Don Quixotes of the world."

It sounds like Guild is not alone, with news that despite bringing Swan Lake to Perth in 2013, St Petersburg Ballet will offer more performances of the dying swan than Giselle, with its spirits of women jilted by their lovers at the altar.

"We thought on this return visit we should offer something else as well, and Giselle is probably the second most popular classical ballet, so was a natural one to bring as a second choice," Guild said.

"Interestingly, we're finding a lot of our repeat customers are in fact repeating Swan Lake."