Ballet – Cultivated

The Red Shoes

James Goffin — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:00:24 +0000

The fairy tale and film get a new life in this 10-year revival of Matthew Bourne’s love letter to stage and screen.

Northern Ballet: Merlin

James Goffin — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 23:27:33 +0000

It’s one of the country’s oldest stories – the mysterious wizard that put King Arthur on the throne – and Merlin’s early life is given a unique twist in this ballet revival.

Jane Eyre

James Goffin — Tue, 20 May 2025 23:24:02 +0000

The delight is in the detail in this stirring and emotional ballet adaptation of Brontë’s Jane Eyre.

Swan Lake

James Goffin — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 23:19:56 +0000

Forget tutus and ballerinas, the swans in this 30th anniversary revival of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake are the sort that could break your arm – or your heart.

Romeo & Juliet

James Goffin — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 22:52:30 +0000

This classic ballet gets a modern and macabre shake up in this surprising new production.

Northern Ballet: A Christmas Carol

James Goffin — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:32:11 +0000

Northern Ballet dance their way through Dickens in this snowy, sparkling Christmas treat.

Nutcracker in Havana

James Goffin — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:58:38 +0000

From the opening bars this is recognisably Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, but also something quite different: with Carlos Acosta’s Latin influences felt in the music before a single dance step.

Edward Scissorhands

James Goffin — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 22:48:28 +0000

Tim Burton’s cult classic film becomes a lively, funny, and visually stunning modern ballet in this revival of Matthew Bourne’s reimagining of Edward Scissorhands.

Swan Lake

James Goffin — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 23:30:00 +0000

This largely traditional production of Tchaikovsky’s most performed ballet throws in some modern twists as part of Varna International Ballet’s 2024 UK tour.

Beauty and the Beast

James Goffin — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 01:12:54 +0000

There are many different versions of the Beauty and the Beast story, with this Northern Ballet dance version having several twists of it own.

Swan Lake

James Goffin — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 00:04:19 +0000

Tchaikovsky’s magical tale of warring swans gets a re-jig in this production that features 90 upcoming young dancers alongside professional principal dancers.

Coppélia

James Goffin — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 23:59:47 +0000

The tale of two lovers, a magician toymaker, and his life-like doll kicks of the three night visit of the Varna International Ballet to Norwich’s Theatre Royal.

The Nutcracker

James Goffin — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 23:06:10 +0000

The Nutcracker is as traditional a part of a theatre Christmas as panto, and Northern Ballet’s revival keeps everything in its place.

Northern Ballet: Merlin

James Goffin — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 22:42:56 +0000

The early life of legendary wizard Merlin is at the heart of Northern Ballet’s new production, and there’s a decent amount of magic dust sprinkled through the show.

Romeo and Juliet

James Goffin — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 00:02:55 +0000

Verona is anything but fair in this dark and challenging reimagining of the tale of two young lovers.

Ballet Central

James Goffin — Fri, 03 May 2019 14:57:44 +0000

This varied and engaging showcase from one of the country’s leading ballet schools is a treat for ballet newbies and aficionados alike.

Cinderella

James Goffin — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 22:06:35 +0000

There has been a drastic evolution in the Russian State Ballet of Siberia’s touring performances.

Cinderella

James Goffin — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 19:44:43 +0000

This may be Cinders, but there is no pumpkin in sight – the fairy godmother is a male angel, the carriage a motorbike and sidecar, and the ball is at the Cafe de Paris in the midst of the London Blitz.

Casanova

James Goffin — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 19:05:03 +0000

This sumptuous new ballet focuses on Italy’s famous romancer, seeking to recast him as a man as much of letters and emotion as of energetic rutting.

The Red Shoes

James Goffin — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 18:59:09 +0000

Based loosely on the Powell and Pressburger classic film, this reimagining of the reimagined Hans Christian Andersen fairytale is a typically stylish Matthew Bourne affair.