BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET ANNOUNCES 2019/20 SEASON - The ...

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EMBARGOED UNTIL 3.30PM, 24 JANUARY 2019

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET ANNOUNCES
2019/20 SEASON
10 productions, 11 venues, 127 performances, including first time
collaborations with Ballet Black and newly appointed Director Carlos Acosta.
It’s a season that’s bursting with brilliance!

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s 2019/20 season marks an exciting period of transformation. For the first
time in the company’s history, the season has been created in partnership with leaders from across the
world of dance, including Ballet Black and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s newly appointed Director Carlos
Acosta CBE, who bring fresh perspectives to the programme, and herald a new era and a bright future
ahead.

The 2019/20 season marks the transition between David Bintley’s Directorship and Carlos Acosta’s first
season, which will be in 2020/21, and creates opportunities for the Company to experiment with new
partnerships to grow and inspire audiences, as well as presenting some of its best loved classics
including works by Director Laureate Sir Peter Wright.

The first full-length production in the 2019/20 season is David Bintley and Galina Samsova’s exquisite
production of Giselle (25 Sep – 2 Nov), swiftly followed by the welcome return of Sir Peter Wright’s
stunning Swan Lake (29 Jan – 4 Apr). The end of the season marks a new beginning, as new Director
Carlos Acosta is welcomed by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s inaugural performances of his ravishing
comedy Don Quixote (19 - 27 Jun), which receives its first UK performances outside London. Carlos
will also curate an energising and celebratory festival at Birmingham Hippodrome and Sadler’s Wells,
London in June 2020.

TWO BALLET NOW WORLD PREMIERES

The 2019/20 season features two world premieres in the Ballet Now talent development programme.
The first, by Queensland Ballet’s Jack Lister, appears alongside Cathy Marston’s critically-acclaimed
The Suit (performed by Ballet Black) and Twyla Tharp’s sizzling tribute to ‘Old Blue Eyes’, Nine
Sinatra Songs. This exciting mixed programme is performed in Birmingham and London (19 Sep - 30
Oct).

Jack Lister said: “I’m really looking forward to working with BRB’s incredibly talented dancers and
alongside such highly respected choreographers. To be given this platform for my first international
commission and to collaborate with such a truly gifted creative team is a dream come true."

Artistic Director & Founder of Ballet Black Cassa Pancho MBE said: “I'm thrilled that Ballet Black will
be joining Birmingham Royal Ballet for their mixed programme in autumn 2019. It's a wonderful
opportunity to collaborate with one of the most established British ballet companies, and for our own
brilliant dancers to work alongside the world-class talent at BRB."

The season’s second world premiere, choreographed by Daniela Cardim, is part of a mixed programme
curated by incoming Director Carlos Acosta as part of his soon-to-be revealed festival. This bill is
completed by George Balanchine’s exuberant Theme and Variations and Goyo Montero’s Chacona.
Created for Uruguayan company National Ballet Sobre in 2017, Chacona is a thrilling, physical piece set
to violin, guitar and piano which receives its UK premiere in this programme. This mixed programme is
presented at Sadler’s Wells, London (11 – 13 Jun). Further programme announcements for the Carlos
Acosta / Birmingham Royal Ballet festival will be revealed in due course.

THE RETURN OF THE NUTCRACKER & EVENING OF MUSIC AND DANCE

Sir Peter Wright’s acclaimed production of The Nutcracker returns to Birmingham Hippodrome for the
festive season (22 Nov – 14 Dec), transporting the audience beyond the theatre to a realm of giant
Christmas trees and dancing snowflakes.

The acclaimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia takes centre stage once more for a spectacular Evening of Music
and Dance (14 & 15 Feb) in Birmingham and Northampton. This popular annual gala includes well-loved
gems and hidden classics selected by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conductors alongside danced excerpts
from Birmingham Royal Ballet’s repertory.

FOR FAMILIES

Birmingham Royal Ballet will once again be embarking on a spring tour (May 2020) to regional venues
with a programme of work specially designed for families. Its mid-scale tour makes ballet even more
accessible for younger audiences, whilst still delighting and entertaining adults. Further details to be
announced.

YOUNG AUDIENCES

Younger audience members can enjoy Birmingham Royal Ballet’s First Steps programme. These hour-
long, interactive shows are adapted for children aged 3+. A storyteller captures their imagination,
introducing the music, leading characters and some of the technical magic – the perfect introduction to
ballet.

Alongside the main programme, Birmingham Royal Ballet continues to introduce new audiences from
touring venues across the country to their world-class dance and music. From primary schools to care
homes, community centres to museums, the Company unlocks amazing opportunities for people of all
ages and abilities.

ENGAGEMENT & PARTICIPATION

Following the success of Cinderella Dreams in 2017 and Sleeping Beauty Dreams in 2018 at Birmingham
Hippodrome, Birmingham Royal Ballet will embark on Swan Lake Dreams; an ambitious engagement
and participation project which will be performed on the main stage at Birmingham Hippodrome (23
February 2020), as well as at Mayflower Theatre in Southampton (2 February 2020) and Theatre Royal
in Plymouth (31 March 2020).

A cast of approximately 70 selected students from each of the three areas will be given the
opportunity to train, rehearse and perform in a full-length ballet alongside Birmingham Royal Ballet
dancers. Open to ballet students aged 9+, the Swan Lake Dreams project gives insight into the
Company workings whilst aiming to develop talent and raise aspirations for dancers of all ages.

Auditions will take place between July and October 2019 with intensive and weekly rehearsals from
July through to the performances in 2020.

The Company will partner with the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, whose orchestra will accompany
the Swan Lake Dreams Birmingham performance, conducted by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s principal
conductor Paul Murphy.

Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire said: “I am delighted that the
Conservatoire will partner with Birmingham Royal Ballet on their ground-breaking project Swan Lake
Dreams. This is yet another example of the Conservatoire’s commitment to creating unique
opportunities for our students to collaborate with world-class partners around the region and beyond.

To alleviate barriers to participation, Birmingham Royal Ballet launched its Dreams Bursary Fund in
2018 which supports talented young dancers aged 8 -18 to fulfil their potential - whatever their
background. This carefully targeted resource provides talented children with financial support to take
part in any Birmingham Royal Ballet dancer development or Birmingham Royal Ballet Dreams
opportunity, giving them the best possible chance to let their talent flourish and grow. The Dreams
Bursary Fund is open to donations from individuals, organisations and other fund-giving organisations.
Held exclusively to support access to ballet participation, a number of bursaries are considered every
year and can include, but are not limited to, support for attendance, transport, accommodation and
dancewear.

Dance Track, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s talent identification and training programme, is now in its 22nd
year, working with 50 primary schools across Birmingham. Each year the Dance Track team engages
with in excess of 2,500 children age 5 and 6.

The programme offers free weekly classes and uniforms plus opportunities to see Birmingham Royal
Ballet in rehearsal and performance. 80 children showing particular aptitude and enjoyment in their
dance classes are invited back for a further year of training, where they are prepared for auditions at
Elmhurst Ballet School and The Royal Ballet School associate schemes.

135 children from north, south and central Birmingham currently attend weekly classes and 32 children
attend Dance Track Plus classes. Many of the children have performed in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s
productions in Birmingham and at the Royal Albert Hall, London. In the last 15 years, 17 children have
been accepted into full-time vocational schools around the country. Dance Track would not be possible
without generous donations from multiple trusts, foundations and individual donors and this pioneering
programme continues throughout the 2019/20 season.

Established in 2002, Freefall Dance Company provides high-quality training and performance
opportunities for talented adults with severe learning difficulties, challenging stereotypical views of
both dance and people with learning disabilities. The Company meets weekly at Birmingham Royal
Ballet studios to hone their ballet technique, prepare for performances and develop leadership and
facilitation skills for their own education and outreach projects. Each year, Freefall showcases its work
through performances as well as at international dance-for–screen festivals with ground-breaking
performance films.

Freefall’s initial film in 2012, Freefall, reached an estimated 1.5million people on live-site screens
across the country. Its second film One Fine Day followed in 2014 with the film being shown at over ten
festivals across Europe and North America. The third film We Are Here premiered in 2017 and
incorporated BRB’s principal dancers Iain Mackay and Jenna Roberts.

In the 2019/20 season, Freefall Dance Company will collaborate with current Director of Birmingham
Royal Ballet David Bintley and award-winning film director Ross MacGibbon on a new landmark dance-
for-screen project. Further details to be announced.

Press images for Birmingham Royal Ballet’s 2019/20 season are available to download here.

For further information please contact media@brb.org.uk.

Mixed Programme
New Lister | The Suit | Nine Sinatra Songs
September – October 2019

New Lister – a co-production with the Queensland Ballet
Choreographer: Jack Lister
Composer: Tom Harrold
Designer: Thomas Mika
Lighting: Alex Berlage

The Suit
Choreography: Cathy Marston
Music: Philip Feeney
Designs: Jane Heather
Lighting: David Plater
Dramaturgy: Edward Kemp

Nine Sinatra Songs
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Songs sung by: Frank Sinatra
Scenic Design originally by: Santo Loquasto
Original costumes by: Oscar de la Renta
Lighting originally by: Jennifer Tipton

Birmingham Hippodrome
Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB; 0844 338 5000
birminghamhippodrome.com
Thursday 19 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 21 September

Sadler’s Wells, London
Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN; 020 7863 8000
sadlerswells.com
Tuesday 29 (PRESS NIGHT) – Wednesday 30 October

Giselle
September – October 2019

Choreography: Marius Petipa, Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, David Bintley
Music: Adolphe Adam
Production: David Bintley, Galina Samsova
Designs: Hayden Griffin
Lighting: Mark Jonathan

Birmingham Hippodrome
Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB; 0844 338 5000
birminghamhippodrome.com
Wednesday 25 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 28 September

Theatre Royal Plymouth
Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2TR; 01752 267222
theatreroyal.com
Wednesday 23 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Friday 25 October

Sadler’s Wells, London
Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN; 020 7863 8000
sadlerswells.com
Friday 1 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 2 November

Peter and the Wolf
October 2019

Choreography: Ruth Brill
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Designs: Spike Kilburn
Lighting: Peter Teigen

Theatre Royal Plymouth
Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2TR; 01752 267222
theatreroyal.com
Saturday 26 October

Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker
November – December 2019

Choreography: Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Vincent Redmond
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Production: Peter Wright
Designs: John F. MacFarlane
Lighting: David A. Finn

Birmingham Hippodrome
Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB; 0844 338 5000
birminghamhippodrome.com
Friday 22 November (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 14 December
On sale now

Swan Lake
January – May 2020

Choreography: Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Marius Petipa
Music: Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Production: Peter Wright, Galina Samsova

Designs: Philip Prowse
Lighting: Peter Teigen

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
22-26 Commercial Rd, Southampton, SO15 1GE; 023 8071 1811
mayflower.org.uk
Wednesday 29 January (PRESS NIGHT, 7.15pm) – Saturday 1 February
On sale 30 January 2019

Birmingham Hippodrome
Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB; 0844 338 5000
birminghamhippodrome.com
Wednesday 19 February (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 29 February

The Lowry, Salford
Lowry Outlet, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ; 0843 208 6000
thelowry.com
Wednesday 4 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 7 March

Sunderland Empire
High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 3EX; 0844 871 7627
atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire
Thursday 12 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 14 March

Theatre Royal Plymouth
Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2TR; 01752 267222
theatreroyal.com
Wednesday 1 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 4 April

An Evening of Music & Dance
February 2020

Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA; 0121 780 3333
thsh.co.uk
Friday 14 February, 7.30pm

Royal & Derngate, Northampton
19-21 Guildhall Rd, Northampton NN1 1DP; 01604 624811
royalandderngate.co.uk
Saturday 15 February, 7.30pm

Mixed Programme
Theme and Variations | Chacona | New Cardim
June 2020

Theme and Variations
Choreography: George Balanchine
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Designs: Peter Farmer

Lighting: Peter Teigen

Chacona
Choreography: Goyo Montero
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Costume design: Verena Hemmerlein

New Cardim
Choreographer: Daniela Cardim
Composer: Paul Englishby
Designer: April Dalton
Lighting: Peter Teigen

Sadler’s Wells, London
Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN; 020 7863 8000
sadlerswells.com
Thursday 11 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 13 June

Don Quixote
as part of the Carlos Acosta Festival
June 2019

Choreography: Carlos Acosta after Marius Petipa
Music: Ludvig Minkus
Arranged and orchestrated by: Martin Yates
Production: Carlos Acosta
Designs: Tim Hatley
Lighting: Hugh Vanstone

Birmingham Hippodrome
Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB; 0844 338 5000
birminghamhippodrome.com
Friday 19 (PRESS NIGHT, 7.30pm) – Saturday 27 June

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Birmingham Royal Ballet
Based at Birmingham Hippodrome since 1990, Birmingham Royal Ballet is the United Kingdom’s leading classical ballet touring company
performing a range of traditional, classical and heritage ballets as well as ground-breaking new works with the aim of encouraging
choreographers of the future.

The company’s Director is the award-winning David Bintley, CBE and Music Director is Koen Kessels. Birmingham Royal Ballet performs at
Birmingham Hippodrome for approximately ten weeks of the year and the remainder of the year tours throughout the United Kingdom and
overseas.

The Royal Ballet Sinfonia is Britain's busiest ballet orchestra, playing for Birmingham Royal Ballet's wide-ranging programme in the UK and
abroad. The Sinfonia also plays frequently for The Royal Ballet and many of the world's other leading ballet companies, including regular
performances with; The Royal Ballet, Paris Opéra Ballet, New York City Ballet, Australian Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Kirov,
Norwegian Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and La Scala Ballet.