The kind of lavish high gloss period piece that the BBC do best, Ballet Shoes, based on the much loved Noel Streatfield novel, was one of the beebs Christmas highlights from 2007. It’s all star cast was headed by a young Emma Watson (Hermoine from the Harry Potter movies) as one of three orphans (she plays Rosalie, the others are Petrova (Yasmin Paige) and Rosy (Lucy Boynton) who are being raised by their eldest sister Sylvia (played by Silent Witness star Emilia Fox)
Of course this being the depressed 1930’s times are very hard indeed but the girls are determined to make something of their lives and persuade Sylvia to enrol them in the Academy of Dance and Stage Training, where each learn not only about fulfilling their dreams but also friendship and overcoming adversity.
The cast alone, which is worth of a big budget movie (and includes the likes of Richard Griffiths, Peter Bowles, Eileen Atkins, Harriet Walter and Gemma Jones) is enough to make this something special.
Cast: Emilia Fox as Sylvia Brown; Victoria Wood as Nana; Emma Watson as Pauline Fossil; Yasmin Paige as Petrova Fossil; Lucy Boynton as Posy Fossil; Richard Griffiths as Great Uncle Matthew; Marc Warren as Mr Simpson; Lucy Cohu as Theo Dane; Gemma Jones as Doctor Jakes; Harriet Walter as Doctor Smith; Eileen Atkins as Madame Fidolia; Heather Nicol as Winifred; Mary Stockley as Miss Jay; Teresa Churcher as Clara; Skye Bennett as Young Sylvia; Peter Bowles as Sir Donald Houghton; Don Gallagher as Mr French; Emma Darwall-Smith as Titania; Isabella Parriss as Cobweb; Jade Longley as Moth; Adrian Lester as Mr Sholsky; Tim Wallers as Mr Montague; Gresby Nash as Leopold Neville; Ebe Sievwright as Valentin Manoff; Ruth Brill as Dancer; Natasha Mould as Dancer; Jack Thorpe Baker as Dancer
Writer: Heidi Thomas / Book: Noel Streatfeild / Script Supervisor: Jane Burrows / Music: Kevin Sargent / Production Design: Jeff Tessler / Executive Producers: Heidi Thomas, Michele Buck, Damien Timmer / Producer: Piers Wenger / Director: Sandra Goldbacher
UK / BBC-1 – Granada / 1×85 minute episode / Broadcast 26 December 2007
