BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET ROYAL BALLET SINFONIA Patron Her Majesty the Queen President HRH The Prince of Wales Vice-President The Lady Sarah Chatto
Director Carlos Acosta cbe Chief Executive Officer Caroline Miller obe
Founded by Dame Ninette de Valois om, ch
Prima Ballerina Assoluta Dame Margot Fonteyn
Founder Choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton om, ch, cbe
Director Laureate Sir Peter Wright cbe
Founder Music Director Constant Lambert
Music Director Laureate Barry Wordsworth
Music Director Koen Kessels
WELCOME It is very exciting to be returning to our home theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome and our long-standing partner venue, Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Carlos Acosta. © Johan Persson
CONTENT Kenneth MacMillan’s
Romeo and Juliet 1 – 12 For a castsheet visit brb.org.uk/romeo Carlos Curates: R&J Reimagined Rosie Kay Dance Company Romeo + Juliet 16 – 21 Edward Clug’s
Radio and Juliet 22 – 25 For a castsheet visit brb.org.uk/carlos-curates
I’m thrilled that our ‘homecoming’ season will be celebrated with a favourite ballet of mine – Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s powerfully dramatic Romeo and Juliet. I am really looking forward to seeing all the dancers new to the iconic title roles, accompanied as ever by our magnificent Royal Ballet Sinfonia. The universal themes of Romeo and Juliet are explored in Carlos Curates: R&J Reimagined. I’m delighted that our talented dancers will be sharing the stage with the wonderful, Birminghambased Rosie Kay Dance Company. We also present the Company premiere of Edward Clug’s edgy Radio and Juliet, to music by Radiohead.
Wells in early November with Curated by Carlos, a sublime triple bill of contemporary ballet. The star Italian ballerina, Alessandra Ferri, makes her debut with Birmingham Royal Ballet in a new pas de deux created especially for Alessandra and me by Goyo Montero for his ballet Chacona - I cannot wait! We end the year with performances, in both Birmingham and London, of the Christmas essential, The Nutcracker! As ever, a heartfelt thanks to each and every one of our supporters. A special thank you must go to the Garfield Weston Foundation, Aud Jebsen, the Michael Bishop Foundation and Oak Foundation for their extraordinarily support in 2021. We are also delighted to welcome HSBC UK as Principal Sponsor of Birmingham Royal Ballet across 2021/22. We are extremely grateful for this support. I hope you enjoy the performance
Looking ahead, we have a packed schedule of live performances to look forward to. We return to Sadler’s
Cover image: Céline Gittens and Brandon Lawrence. © Richard Battye
Director
