Birmingham Royal Ballet: Don Quixote at The Lowry

Promising an explosion of entertainment for all ages and a much-welcomed splash of Spanish sunshine, Birmingham Royal Ballet bring their new production of Don Quixote to The Lowry this March.

Exotic, upbeat and sparkling with comedy, Don Quixote is a hugely popular ballet and a great choice for family audiences; the perfect show for ballet first-timers and also a revered classic for seasoned dance-lovers.

The perfect show for ballet first-timers and a revered classic for seasoned dance-lovers.

Based on Spain’s most famous novel, written by Miguel De Cervantes, the ballet follows the adventures of the knight Don Quixote and his dependable servant Sancho Panza. Taking inspiration from one of the tales in Cervantes’ masterpiece, the ballet focuses on the story of the young lovers Kitri and Basilio. The young couple have hopes to marry – however, Kitri’s father has other plans, preferring her to marry the wealthy nobleman Gamache. Cue Don Quixote. A firm believer in true love, will Don Quixote be able to intervene and help the young couple find happiness?

The ballet of Don Quixote was created by one of history’s most renowned choreographers Marius Petipa. Featuring a lively Spanish-themed score by Ludwig Minkus, the ballet of Don Quixote was first performed in 1869 and has been a firm cornerstone in global ballet repertoire ever since.

Featuring a lively Spanish-themed score by Ludwig Minkus, Don Quixote is a firm cornerstone in global ballet repertoire.

For Birmingham Royal Ballet Director Carlos Acosta, Don Quixote has always been a special work. At the tender age of 16, he performed an excerpt from the ballet to win the Gold Medal at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne. The success at the competition launched the Cuban teenager onto the world stage and saw him dance in theatres across the world.

Following a remarkable career and 17 years of dancing with the Royal Ballet, Acosta created a vibrant new version of Don Quixote in 2013. With dazzling new choreography, the celebrated production, last performed in 2019, was a hit with audiences and acclaimed by critics. So, when he became director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2020, he was keen to bring this sunshine-filled ballet into the Company’s repertoire.

An explosion of entertainment for all ages and a much-welcomed splash of Spanish sunshine.

This new production for Birmingham Royal Ballet is a vibrant brand-new take on the celebrated ballet. Featuring a new concept, fresh design by Tim Hatley, re-orchestration and some stunning new choreography, this new production of Don Quixote is beautifully grand, though created with touring in mind, to reach as many audiences as possible.

Don Quixote was originally scheduled to premiere in 2020. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and period of lockdowns, the launch of the show has been delayed by over 18 months. We’re absolutely thrilled that this bright and uplifting ballet bounds into The Lowry this spring.

Don’t miss out on one of the first UK performances of Acosta’s sparkling new 21st-century production of this 19th-century masterpiece.