Birmingham Royal Ballet return to Hippodrome this June

Birmingham Royal Ballet return to Birmingham Hippodrome in June with the much loved ‘STILL LIFE’ AT THE PENGUIN CAFÉ, choreographed by Sir David Bintley, to round off the Company’s 2022-23 season.

The Triple Bill from Thursday 8 – Saturday day 11 June will also feature George Balanchine’s APOLLO, and BRB’s acclaimed new ballet INTERLINKED by choreographer Juliano Nunes, that was commissioned for the Commonwealth Games’ Birmingham 2022 Festival, all accompanied by live music performed by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

This exciting programme marks the last time audiences will see Principal Brandon Lawrence dance with the company before he leaves BRB to join Ballett Zürich at the end of the current season.

‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café features a host of endangered animals who seek shelter from the storm in David Bintley’s beautiful and much-loved production. Featuring a morris-dancing flea, a ballroom-dancing ram, a hoe-downing rat, a majestic zebra and many more, An enjoyable, yet bittersweet and poignant look at human impact on the world. All danced to Simon Jeffes’s delightful score, originally composed for the Penguin Café Orchestra.

Apollo highlights the genius of its creator, the then 24-year-old George Balanchine, and launched his lifelong partnership with the composer Igor Stravinsky. This most exquisite of ballets was regarded by Balanchine as his artistic coming of age. Its pared back elegance gives the perfect platform for the Company’s world-class dancers to shine.

Brilliant young Brazilian choreographer Juliano Nunes’s Interlinked was premiered in summer 2022 as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival. Described as “stretching ballet’s mould” (The Guardian) with a specially composed score by Australian composer Luke Howard, this beautifully abstract piece explores ideas of grace, beauty and harmony in ways that push the usual boundaries of classical dance.

Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta said: ‘This programme really has something for everyone and demonstrates a continuation of our desire at BRB to present and perform work that highlights the company’s rich repertoire whilst presenting new works by the best choreographers of today.”

Audiences also have the opportunity to see BRB perform for the very first time on the main stage at this year’s Birmingham Pride with the pas de deux from Interlinked danced by Brandon Lawrence and fellow Principal Tzu-Chao Chou

Brandon commented “To have a spot on the main stage is absolutely fantastic. It’s about the message of the company having a presence there. If there is any work genre area which is more LGBTQ+ friendly, it’s the entertainment industry.”

As part of the celebration of the Triple Bill, BRB is also holding its first dance performance at Mostly Jazz Festival, Moseley on July 8 and 9. The piece will be created as part of the Penguin Performance Project, led by the company’s Learning, Engagement, Access and Participation Department in partnership with Performers College.

Inspired by ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café, the project sees BRB principal Lachlan Monaghan and artist Rosanna Ely co-choreographing work with students to create multiple pop-up performances at the festival in a carnival-style party.