TICKETS FOR BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET'S RESIDENCY AT THE REP ON SALE TO MEMBERS - GENERAL ON SALE 18 FEBRUARY

• BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET’S WEEK-LONG RESIDENCY AT THE REP

• TICKETS ON SALE TO MEMBERS NOW - GENERAL BOOKING OPENS FRIDAY 18 FEBRUARY

• NEW DOCUMENTARY BY FILM MAKING STUDENTS AT BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY (BCU) TAKES VIEWERS BEHIND THE SCENES OF CARLOS ACOSTA’S NEW BALLET DON QUIXOTE

Birmingham Royal Ballet is delighted to announce that tickets will go on general sale on Friday 18 February for the company’s residency at The Rep from Sunday 8 -Saturday 14 May.

The residency continues the company’s ongoing partnership with the theatre, created by BRB’s Director Carlos Acosta and The Rep’s Artistic Director Sean Foley in 2020, to help revive the city’s cultural life following lockdown.

Sean commented “We are delighted to have forged such an exciting and dynamic new artistic relationship with Birmingham Royal Ballet over the last year, and now look forward to welcoming our City partners back to our epic and intimate main stage for a season that celebrates some of the very best new work from this magnificent Company.”

The inaugural performances at The Rep took place in October 2020 with the world premiere of Lazuli Sky by Will Tuckett, marking the reopening of The REP and BRB’s return to live performances. This was followed in June 21 with the world premiere of City of a Thousand Trades commissioned by Carlos Acosta and choreographed by Miguel Altunaga. BRB and The REP also collaborated on specially adapted seasons of Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker and Sir David Bintley’s Cinderella during ‘20 and ’21.

The week-long residency in May will feature performances aimed at all ages including a showcase of new choreographic talent, performances by BRB’s world-class dancers, a special performance for those new to ballet accompanied with live music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia

The company opens its residency at The Rep on Sunday 8 May with Dance Track 25 marking the 25th anniversary of the talent development scheme featuring Dance Track alumni and students at the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School.

Dance Track 25 also features performances by BRB Principals Céline Gittens and Brandon Lawrence who will be co-hosting alongside BRB Board member Shireenah Ingram. Dance Track 25 is generously supported by HSBC UK.

Dance Track 25 is followed on Sunday 10 May by New Dance Now, a showcase of new choreographic talent.  This special evening will feature brand new work by a new generation of young upcoming choreographers from the UK’s leading ballet companies.

At the end of this exciting evening the audience will be invited to vote for their favourite choreographic star. 

The residency continues Friday 13-Saturday 14 May with An Evening of Music and Dance with performances by BRB’s world-class dancers in a concert performance of a ballet repertoire hand-picked by Carlos Acosta. Performances include the famous Bluebird pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty and the beautiful Farewell pas de deux from Kenneth MacMillan’s Winter Dreams with music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia live on stage 

Shireenah Ingram will return to host Discover Dance & Music on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 May. Discover Dance & Music is a magical journey into ballet for everyone aged 4+. With music from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Shireenah will be joined by conductor Philip Ellis to introduce audiences to the instruments of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, present BRB’s brilliant dancers in highlights from classic ballets, and a host of interactive fun, games and animal antics.

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s week-long residency at The Rep runs from Sunday 8-Saturday 14 May. Tickets can be booked www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/

Dance Track 25 (Sunday 8 May, 2pm & 6pm), £10

New Dance Now (Tuesday 10 May, 7.30pm), £15

An Evening of Music & Dance (Friday 13 & Saturday 14 May, 7.30pm) - From £18.50

Discover Dance & Music (Schools: Friday 13 May, 1pm & Saturday 14 May, 2.30pm) - From £12.50, Age 4+

In line with current Government regulations, The Rep is now open to full capacity, but continues to take a number of carefully managed steps and precautions to help audiences feel safe and enjoy their chosen performance.

The wearing of masks is mandatory throughout the building and additional cleaning will continue.

BEHIND THE SCENES AT DON QUIXOTE:

As part of BRB’s commitment to delivering collaborative, creative learning opportunities to support talented students progress to employment in the performing arts and the wider creative industries, nine film-making students from Birmingham City University (BCU) have been working with BRB in the lead up to the performances of Don Quixote, Carlos Acosta’s first new full-length ballet for the company.

The students are in their final year on the BA (Hons) Filmmaking course at the school of Games, Film and Animation at BCU, and this bold initiative has offered them rare behind-the-scenes access to BRB during the creation of Don Quixote.

The documentary will take viewers on a fascinating journey, exploring all the intricacies and formidable logistics that go into the creation of a large-scale ballet production. The documentary will feature interviews with Carlos Acosta and Don Quixote designer, Tim Hatley, among others. Viewers will also enjoy a rare glimpse of the work of a range of creatives, technicians, producers and administrators, vital to the creation of a major new ballet production - a real hive of activity that is often overlooked by the public as they enjoy the spectacle of the finished ballet live on stage.

The initiative was devised jointly by BRB’s Creative Digital Producer, Tom Rogers, and BCU’s Course Director on the BA (Hons) Filmmaking and the MA in Feature Film Development, Shaun Mager. Visit www.brb.org.uk for release date.

Don Quixote, Carlos Acosta’s first full length ballet for BRB, is at Birmingham Hippodrome from Friday 18-Saturday 26 February as part of a national tour. Click here for further details.