Foxtrot Films

creative original storytelling
films by Margy Kinmonth

Russian Art + Culture

Margy Kinmonth on the remarkable life and legacy of Grinling Gibbons

Limewood cherubs surmounting the reredos by Grinling Gibbons at Trinity College Chapel, Oxford © Bob Easton

I’ve just been to see the show of Grinling Gibbons exhibition at Compton Verney. The State Hermitage Museum St Petersburg had agreed to lend their important portrait of the celebrated Grinling Gibbons by Godfrey Kneller, but it couldn’t be sent due to Covid and the current Brexit import difficulties. Escalating transport costs and problems with freight are now making these international art loans, which we had enjoyed in the past, extremely difficult today. Some carvings of Grinling Gibbons appear in “Hermitage Revealed” my feature documentary which encapsulates the story of Russian history within the State Hermitage Museum.

My film tells how Catherine the Great purchased the Walpole collection from Houghton Hall in 1779, for her own picture collection, which is why so many of the works are now in Russia. Luckily for Compton Verney, the National Portrait Gallery have stepped in by loaning a substitution of their own Gibbons portrait for the big anniversary exhibition.

Read full article by Margy Kinmonth: GRINLING GIBBONS IS ALIVE AND WELL AND STILL IN ST PETERSBURG published in Russian Art + Culture on 27 September 2021.

Nutcracker – as much part of Christmas as Brussel sprouts…

It’s a beloved tradition, but also vital to the financial wellbeing of ballet companies all over the world. But with this year’s pandemic closures, ballet faces a massive threat, including “Nutcracker” from The State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia presented by Pathe Live showing in cinemas all over the country as a special family Christmas treat starting from 20 December 2020.

I watched many versions while making my film Nutcracker Story, which pays homage to one of the world’s favourite fairy tales; it examines the famous story about growing up and asks what it is about Tchaikovsky’s ballet that has made it such an essential part of every child’s Christmas all over the world? […]

Read full article by Margy Kinmonth: BOLSHOI BALLET CINEMA: THE NUTCRACKER published in Russian Art + Culture on 17 December 2020.

Margy Kinmonth reviews “The Lady of the Camellias” from the Bolshoi Theatre

“The Lady with The Camellias”, Svetlana Zakharova and Edvin Revazov, photo by Damir Yusupov

I’ve always been interested in the historic cultural crossover between Russia and France. Here’s a true mixture of both. A ballet story written and composed in France and performed in Russia.

The Lady with the Camellias, best known in English as Camille, is a story set in mid-19th-century France, written by Alexandre Dumas fils when he was only 23 years old, and published in 1848, with his real-life lover Marguerite Gautier as central character. This story has inspired operas, ballets, plays, books and countless movies ever since. […]

Read full article by Margy Kinmonth: BOLSHOI BALLET IN UK CINEMAS FROM 1 NOVEMBER 2020: “THE LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS” published in Russian Art + Culture on 30 October 2020.

Margy Kinmonth reviews “Romeo and Juliet” from the Bolshoi Theatre

“Romeo and Juliet” © Trafalgar Releasing

“I miss going to the ballet, to experience breathtaking live performances in the flesh. The last time I was in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow was at Christmas, sitting on gold chairs in a sea of plush velvet. Now the pandemic has changed everything…we watch things at home in our pyjamas. But something’s come along that’s well worth going out for.

“Romeo and Juliet” is an incredible moviegoers’ treat. Sergei Prokovief’s music score is distinctive and familiar, the sound is so good – the orchestra which could be right here in the room. Gifted ex Bolshoi choreographer Alexei Ratmansky of the American Ballet Theatre, is famous for restaging traditionally classical ballets for large companies. And this is no exception, he powerfully brings out the modernity of the company in this classic tale of forbidden love. […]

Read full article by Margy Kinmonth: “ROMEO AND JULIET” FROM THE BOLSHOI THEATRE – AN INCREDIBLE MOVIEGOERS’ TREAT published in Russian Art + Culture on 8 October 2020.

Conversation pieces: Margy Kinmonth talks to Rory Keenan

Rory Keenan and Margy Kinmonth
Rory Keenan and Margy Kinmonth

“AFTERPLAY” is a play about what happens after – inspired by the great Russian playwright writer Anton Chekhov, and written by Brian Friel, widely recognised as one of Ireland’s greatest dramatists. In his masterful one act play Friel (1929 – 2015) revisits two iconic characters created by Chekhov (1860 – 1904) from “Three Sisters” and “Uncle Vanya”, and hauntingly evokes what might have happened next.

“Afterplay” starring Rory Keenan, premiered in early March at The Coronet Theatre in London. Our contributor, Margy Kinmonth was lucky enough to catch it before the production was forced to close due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The theatre went dark and many involved either caught Covid19 or were furloughed, but the taste of this play remained strongly in her mind. With all that is going on, what is it really about? […]

Read full article by Margy Kinmonth: CREATIVITY IN TIMES OF COVID: FILM DIRECTOR MARGY KINMONTH IN CONVERSATION WITH ACTOR RORY KEENAN published in Russian Art + Culture on 4 June 2020.