International touring
About the Company Northern Ballet is a powerhouse of inventive dance. Bold and confident in our approach, we engage, involve and move our audiences. We reach a diverse range of people through passionate story-telling, a mastery of classical dance technique and an absolute commitment to our leading role as an international ambassador for world-class dance.
increasingly diverse audiences, ensuring we are accessible and engaging to all. We do this by creating full-length ballets which appeal to people from all walks of life, constantly seeking to engage new audiences from within our community, across the UK and internationally while retaining a high standard of quality and value.
Northern Ballet was set up in 1969 and has since grown to become one of the bestloved dance companies in the world. We take inspiration from an eclectic mix of classical dance, theatre, popular culture, literature and opera to develop new and original productions and to create new interpretations of popular classical ballets. We are committed to bringing worldclass dance and passionate storytelling to
2019 sees Northern Ballet celebrating its 50th Anniversary year. This will be marked by an expansion of our programme onto screens both big and small. Our extensive digital programme will see Northern Ballet productions broadcast around the world on both TV and cinema.
Northern Ballet dancers in The Little Mermaid. Photo Emma Kauldhar.
Artistic Director David Nixon OBE David Nixon has been Artistic Director of Northern Ballet since 2001. Following a celebrated career that began at the National Ballet of Canada David Nixon joined the Deutsche Oper Ballet in Berlin as Principal Dancer in 1985. A series of Principal Guest Artist positions followed with National Ballet of Canada, Bayerisches Staatsballett, Munich and Royal Winnipeg Ballet before returning to Deutsche Oper Ballet in 1994 as First Ballet Master. His Guest Artist credits also include Birmingham Royal Ballet, Komische Oper, Deutsche Staatsoper, Hamburg Ballet and Sydney City Ballet. In 1994 David became Artistic Director of BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio, USA. During his six years with the Company, he added 16 world and 15 Company premières to the repertoire. Since joining Northern Ballet in 2001, David has added an impressive array of new works to the repertoire including Madame Butterfly, Wuthering Heights, I Got Rhythm, Swan Lake, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Pan, Dracula, The Three Musketeers, A Sleeping Beauty Tale, The Nutcracker, Hamlet, Cleopatra, Beauty & the Beast, The Great Gatsby, Cinderella, and The Little Mermaid. David’s productions have been staged worldwide including Europe, Canada, the USA and South Africa. Most recently he reproduced The Great Gatsby for West Australian Ballet in 2017.
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Awards
In 2014 Northern Ballet won the award for Best Company at the Taglioni European Ballet Awards. Northern Ballet won the Dance Award at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards in 2016 and was nominated again in 2017. In 2016 the Company was also nominated for Achievement in Dance at the UK Theatre Awards. Northern Ballet has been nominated for Outstanding Company at the National Dance Awards for the last five consecutive years in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. In 2018 Northern Ballet was recognised with the Achievement in Dance award by UK Theatre for its ‘bold and varied programme’ including the world première of David Nixon’s The Little Mermaid and its company première of a triple bill of works by Sir Kenneth MacMillan.
Northern Ballet in Gloria. Photo Bill Cooper.
Northern Ballet International touring | 5
Casanova A ballet by Kenneth Tindall Consumed by his desires, Casanova lived every minute in a whirlwind of scandal and excess. But there’s more to the man. This original ballet exposes Casanova’s sensational story. The scenario, adapted from Ian Kelly’s biography and created in conjunction between Kelly and acclaimed choreographer Kenneth Tindall follows Casanova on a journey from the churches of Venice to the salons of Paris. After the young trainee priest Casanova is proved unfit for a life in the clergy, his ensuing exploits include brushes with the law, inquisitors, thieves and a daring escape from jail. After Casanova wows Parisian high society with his tales he is in turn wooed by a notorious sequence of partners in this spine-tingling spectacle of 18th century decadence. The audience is left with a portrait of the man whose reality is far more complex than anyone would imagine; clergyman, musician, escapologist, spy, writer, diplomat, librarian, lover. This modern masterpiece has been hailed as “nothing short of mesmerising” and displays the full talents of Northern Ballet’s company of dancers at their dramatic best.
Original Scenario Ian Kelly and Kenneth Tindall, adapted from Ian Kelly’s biography of Casanova Music Kerry Muzzey Set & Costume Design Christopher Oram Lighting Design Alastair West World Première: 11 March 2017, Grand Theatre, Leeds, UK
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
‘Casanova is an impressive and exhilarating evening’s ballet’ The Telegraph
‘Exciting, absorbing dance theatre enveloped in a majestic visual spectacle’ Bachtrack
‘A truly eye-catching spectacle’ The i
★★★★★ ★★★★★
‘Gorgeously sleazy’ Mail on Sunday
‘Majestic and thrilling… a modern masterpiece’ The Reviews Hub
‘Nothing short of mesmerising’ The Stage
★★★★ ★★★★ The Independent
Northern Ballet dancers in Casanova. Photo Emma Kauldhar.
Jane Eyre A ballet by Cathy Marston
The ultimate heroine, Jane Eyre’s journey to overcome the odds is one of literature’s finest love stories. Orphaned at a young age and cruelly treated by her Aunt, Jane Eyre is a plain but intelligent child who grows up knowing little kindness. Sent away to a charitable school, Jane later accepts a position as a Governess at Thornfield, a gentleman’s manor whose master is the dark and impassioned Mr Rochester. Despite their social differences, an unlikely bond grows between the pair but as their romance develops, it becomes clear that Mr Rochester has a hidden past that threatens to ruin them both. With choreography by Cathy Marston, and a new score by Philip Feeney which adapts music from Schubert and Mendelssohn played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, Northern Ballet’s brilliant dance actors bring this ultimate tale of romance, jealousy and dark secrets to life. American Ballet Theatre will give the USA Premiere of this Northern Ballet production in June 2019 at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House.
Choreography & Scenario Cathy Marston Set & Costume Design and Scenario Patrick Kinmonth Music Philip Feeney Lighting Design Alastair West World Première: 19 May 2016, CAST, Doncaster, UK
Hannah Bateman and Joseph Taylor in Jane Eyre. Photo Emma Kauldhar.
Nominated for the South Bank Sky Arts Dance Award 2017 ‘Northern Ballet has triumphed with Brontë’ The Spectator
★★★★ ‘the ballet soars in the lovers’ closing duet, a moving argument of mutual discovery, tenderness and ecstasy that is beautifully articulated through the choreography’ The Guardian
★★★★ ‘the audience is completely absorbed’ The Telegraph
The Little Mermaid A ballet by David Nixon OBE
When a young mermaid is finally allowed her first glimpse of life beyond the ocean, she is enthralled by what she sees. After falling desperately in love with a man, she will do anything she can to live a human life. Northern Ballet’s beautiful new ballet reimagines the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. Popularised by the much-loved Disney film this classic fairytale production has a broad appeal across the generations with 55,000 tickets sold across the initial UK tour.
Direction, Choreography, Costume Design and Scenario David Nixon OBE Composer Sally Beamish Set Design Kimie Nakano Lighting Design Tim Mitchell World Première: 21 September 2017, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, UK
Northern Ballet dancers in The Little Mermaid. Photo Emma Kauldhar.
★★★★★ ‘A magical masterpiece’ Bachtrack
★★★★ ‘This Little Mermaid hooked me’ The Times
★★★★ ‘truly transports the audience to life under the sea’ The Reviews Hub
★★★★ ‘Thoroughly absorbing, superbly danced’ The Stage ‘A sensuous and absorbing telling of a classic fairy tale’ British Theatre Guide
The Great Gatsby A ballet by David Nixon OBE
Nick Carraway comes to know his infamous neighbour Jay Gatsby – a mysterious millionaire with a secret past and a penchant for lavish parties and beautiful women. As the sparkling façade of Gatsby’s world begins to slip, Carraway comes to see the loneliness, obsession and tragedy that lies beneath. The seductive style and glamour of 1920s New York era is recreated through stunning sets and costumes. Music by Academy Award nominated and BAFTA winning composer Sir Richard Rodney Bennett CBE (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Murder on the Orient Express), recorded by Northern Ballet Sinfonia. With an unparalleled reputation for telling stories through dance, Northern Ballet is the perfect company to translate F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel into ballet. The Great Gatsby premiered in 2013 and has toured throughout the UK with audiences of over 88,000 people. Northern Ballet has given further performances of The Great Gatsby in Beijing and Shanghai to sell-out audiences and stunning success. West Autralian Ballet gave the Australian premiere of this work in September 2017.
Choreography, Direction, Scenario & Costume Design David Nixon OBE Co-direction & Scenario Patricia Doyle Music Sir Richard Rodney Bennett CBE Set Design Jérôme Kaplan Lighting Design Tim Mitchell World Première: 2 March 2013, Grand Theatre, Leeds, UK
Giuliano Contadini, Martha Leebolt and Tobias Batley in The Great Gatsby. Photo Emma Kauldhar.
★★★★ ‘Elegance and flair from top to toe’ The Stage
★★★★ ‘beautiful to behold’ Yorkshire Post ‘Nixon’s choreography really flies.’ The Guardian ‘A feast for the eyes’ Good Housekeeping
Wuthering Heights A ballet by David Nixon OBE
Passionate and obsessive, Cathy and Heathcliff’s love is as unruly and dangerous as the Yorkshire moors that surround them. As children they are inseparable, running wild and free on the moors, but over time their childish affection deepens into an overwhelming love – a devastating force that even death cannot destroy. With an original score by celebrated composer Claude-Michel Schönberg, known for his West End and Broadway hits Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, see this turbulent love story brought to life in Northern Ballet’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s romantic masterpiece.
Choreography and Costume Design David Nixon OBE Composer Claude-Michel Schönberg Theatrical Associate & Dramaturge Patricia Doyle Set Design Ali Allen Lighting Design David Grill World Première: 21 September 2002, Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, UK
Rachael Gillespie and Jeremy Curnier in Wuthering Heights. Photo Emma Kauldhar.
★★★★ ‘David Nixon’s beautifully nuanced choreography, at times robust, sexy and energetic, at others heart-breakingly tender perfectly expresses the youthful joy as well as the dangerous, destructive passions at play’ The Yorkshire Post
★★★★ ‘A real crowd-pleaser’ The Reviews Hub ‘Dance is the perfect genre for this tragic love story’ The Scotsman ‘A thunderous and energising score… this is a production that honours the spirit of Emily Brontë and showcases Northern Ballet at its best’ Mail on Sunday
1984 A ballet by Jonathan Watkins
Winston Smith lives in a world of absolute conformity, his every action is scrutinised by Big Brother. However, when Winston meets Julia, he dares to rebel by falling in love. Based on George Orwell’s masterpiece and created by Guest Choreographer and former Royal Ballet dancer Jonathan Watkins, 1984 is “the ballet equivalent of a page-turner”. 1984 features a brand new score from Tony-nominated Composer Alex Baranowski. Following its premiere in 2015 and has toured throughout the UK with audiences of over 30,000 people.
Choreography & Direction Jonathan Watkins Set and Costume Design Simon Daw Video Design Andrzej Goulding Lighting Design Chris Davey Music Alex Baranowski Dramaturgy Ruth Little Based on 1984 by George Orwell (copyright 1949) by permission of Bill Hamilton as the Literary Executor of the Estate of the Late Sonia Brownell Orwell. World Première: 05 September 2015, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, UK
Northern Ballet dancers in 1984. Photo Emma Kauldhar.
★★★★ ‘1984 switches with lightning ferocity through the emotional gears’ The Independent
★★★★ ‘This is gripping storytelling’ The Stage
★★★★ ‘Terrific’ The Guardian
★★★★ ‘A chilling climax’ The Financial Times
★★★★ ‘A slick and stylish production’ Evening Standard
Cleopatra A ballet by David Nixon OBE
Northern Ballet’s Cleopatra has thrilled audiences and critics, and gained celebrity fans since its world première in 2011. This stunning ballet charts Cleopatra’s sensational rise to power, her scandalous romances with the most powerful men in history, and her eventual downfall. With music composed by Golden Globe and Academy Award nominated Claude-Michel Schönberg (famed for Les Misérables and Miss Saigon), played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, and choreography from Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director David Nixon OBE, Cleopatra is an unmissable retelling of a remarkable woman’s story.
Choreography, Co-direction, Scenario and Design David Nixon OBE Music Claude-Michel Schönberg Co-direction Patricia Doyle Design Christopher Dudgeon Lighting Design Tim Mitchell Projections Nina Dunn World Premiere: 23 February 2011, Grand Theatre, Leeds, UK
Martha Leebolt and Javier Torres in Cleopatra. Photo Bill Cooper.
★★★★★
★★★★
‘Vibrant, entertaining and captivating work’ The Scotsman
‘Gripping entertainment’ Mail on Sunday
‘Ravishing visual effects and memorable dance performances’ British Theatre Review Cinematic in pace and full of well-etched, inventive and memorable choreography’ Dance Europe ‘Few dance companies are as deserving of praise as Northern Ballet’ Evening Standard
‘It looks ravishing… Nixon’s choreography is accomplished’ The Times ‘Breathtakingly sensual’ The Stage ‘Cleopatra is a stunner… the audience loved every minute of it’ Sunday Express ‘A plethora of stunning costumes’ The Scotsman
Beauty & the Beast A ballet by David Nixon OBE
A handsome Prince is transformed into a Beast as punishment for his ugly arrogance. Only true love can break the spell – but who could love a monster like him? Northern Ballet’s Beauty & the Beast brings one of the world’s most famous fairytales to life in a kaleidoscope of colour. Set to an infectious score including music by Saint-Säens, Bizet and Debussy, Northern Ballet brings a new magic to this enduring story; a treasured classic reimagined. Beauty & the Beast premiered in 2011 and has toured throughout the UK with audiences of over 67,000 people. It was also performed by West Australian Ballet in Perth in May 2016.
Choreography & Direction David Nixon OBE Set Design Duncan Hayler Costume Design David Nixon OBE assisted by Julie Anderson Lighting Design Tim Mitchell Music Saint-Säens, Bizet, Debussy, Poulenc and Glazunov Orchestrations John Longstaff World Premiere: 17 December 2011, Grand Theatre, Leeds, UK
Dreda Blow and Ashley Dixon in Beauty & the Beast. Photo Emma Kauldhar.
★★★★ ‘The Company give Beauty & the Beast their all’ The Observer ‘Another exquisitely produced performance’ Sunday Mirror
★★★★ ‘A triumphant success’ The Telegraph
★★★★ ‘A proper fairytale ending. Super’ Daily Express
Touring Information
Company There are approx. 60 members of the company on tour including 38 dancers, 2 executives, 4 artistic staff, 9 technicians, 4 wardrobe staff and 4 company stage management. When touring with our orchestra, Northern Ballet Sinfonia, the touring party increases to c.90 members. Staging Get-in for all productions is two days including first evening performance. Get-out is approximately five hours. Shipping All productions tour complete with all scenery, props and costumes in up to 3 high cube shipping containers. Full Archive video of all productions and technical specifications available upon request. Production Hire All productions including sets and costumes are available for hire. Enquiries Tobias Perkins Head of Planning +44 (0)113 2208000 tobias.perkins@northernballet.com
Minju Kang and Javier Torres in Las Hermanas. Photo Lauren Godfrey.
For more details please contact Tobias Perkins Head of Planning +44 (0) 113 220 8000 tobias.perkins@northernballet.com
northernballet.com
National Tour Sponsor
Front: Northern Ballet dancers in Casanova. Photo Caroline Holden. Registered charity no. 259140. Company registration no. 947096. Northern Ballet Limited registered in England and Wales. Company limited by guarantee and share capital.