- a small, insignificant town in the middle of France Profonde.
For some strange reason the Grand Kyiv Ballet chose us on their European tour. A town that could do no more than offer them the "salle des fêtes" with its too small, noisy stage without scenery, a ropey sound system (no orchestra) and an audience on hard stacking chairs.
They danced Sleeping Beauty - the choreography and the costumes so musty and classical that it felt like we were seeing the first performance.
The girls were taller than the boys - and we think they were just boys (the male principals being otherwise occupied). Young boys, not yet with the strength or experience to lift their partners effortlessly.
At the end, following a somewhat subdued curtain call (no curtains as such of course) the young prince ran off-stage and re-emerged waving the Ukrainian blue and gold flag and the audience rose to its feet and applauded and applauded.
