Birmingham Royal Ballet and The REP announce a ballet dedicated to Birmingham this June

Photo credit: Joe Bailey

Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet will be collaborating on a new season this summer, to include a tantalising triple bill and an adapted production of Sir David Bintley’s family classic, Cinderella.

Curated by Carlos (Acosta), the triple bill will run from 10-12 June and will feature the world premiere of City of a Thousand Trades, a brand new one-act ballet dedicated to the city of Birmingham, as part of BRB’s Ballet Now Programme. The piece will be created by choreographer Miguel Altunaga, with co-direction and dramaturgy by The REP Associate Director Madeleine Kludje, with music by Mathias Coppens (performed by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia), design by Guilia Scrimieri and lighting by Michael Lee-Woolley.

The triple bill also includes new abstract work Imminent by Brazilian/British choreographer Daniela Cardim, featuring music by Paul Englishby, design by April Dalton, dramaturgy by Lou Cope and lighting by Peter Teigen. The piece is inspired by the feeling that something significant is looming and that change is imminent.

Completing the programme will be the UK premiere of Goyo Montero’s Chacona; a thrillingly physical piece with music by J.S. Bach performed live on stage, along with sixteen dancers. Montero combines Bach’s original violin score with the piano and guitar to create three different levels, three states, like communicating vessels that create an ever-rising tension.

Family favourite Cinderella combines wonderful dance, spectacular scenery and a joyful cast of characters. Specially adapted for The REP and running from 18-26 June, the production will feature a reduced score and staging amendments to allow for social distancing and performer ‘bubbles’.

Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta said: ‘To be able to present work to audiences again this June will be a huge relief, we are already rehearsing and it is incredibly motivating and inspiring for the Company to have this to look forward to and work hard towards in collaboration with Sean Foley and The REP team. It is over a year since the theatres closed and a year later than planned that these two new works, which I am very excited about, will finally make their premieres. The programme illustrates what I want this Company to be and highlights our commitment to diverse talent.’

Tickets will go on priority sale to Birmingham Royal Ballet Friends and REP Members from 12pm on Tuesday 13 April and to the public from 12pm on Friday 16 April here.