Northern Ballet to dance Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Romeo and Juliet

Posted on April 9, 2014

Northern Ballet will open its spring 2015 season with the UK premiere of Jean-Christophe Maillot’s production of Romeo and Juliet, originally created for Les Ballets de Monte Carlo.

Northern Ballet, which celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2015, will dance Maillot’s Romeo and Juliet at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre from February 26 to 28, 2015, followed by performances at Leeds Grand Theatre in March and a planned national tour in 2016.

David Nixon, Northern Ballet’s artistic director, said: “I have chosen to add Jean-Christophe Maillot’s interpretation of Romeo and Juliet to our repertoire as it is an inspired contemporary response to the classic play and his wonderful language will work convincingly with our dancers. I was also looking for a production that would provide a complete contrast and different point of view for our audience and artists from our present signature production [created by Christopher Gable and Massimo Moricone, with designs by Lez Brotherston]… We will not be losing this version from our repertoire, but will be offering a new interpretation for our audiences to experience and to reflect upon. I am very honoured to be the first British company to present Jean-Christophe Maillot’s work.”

The announcement comes on the day of the UK premiere of Maillot’s LAC (after Swan Lake), to be danced at the London Coliseum from April 9 to 12. Maillot is to create another Shakespeare-inspired production, The Taming of the Shrew, for the Bolshoi Ballet this July.

Tickets for the Edinburgh performances will go on general sale on April 28.

Pictures: Les Ballets de Monte Carlo in Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Romeo and Juliet. Photograph: Marie-Laure Briane

Zoe Anderson

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.