The Northern Ballet 2023-2024 season, the first one curated by Artistic Director Federico Boneli, showcases the revival of classical ballets alongside contemporary creations and premieres by emerging choreographers.

Northern Ballet 2023-2024 Season Trailer
More Northern Ballet Updates
In a soon to be announced program for the Northern Ballet 2023-2024 season, and building on its tradition of storytelling, Northern Ballet has commissioned a contemporary response to Romeo & Juliet with a new work for 2024 from Olivier Award Winning South African choreographer Mthuthuzeli November. Mthuthuzeli returns to Northern Ballet after creating Wailers for the Company in 2022, this new work will be a storytelling ballet that takes inspiration from the well-known classic.
Northern Ballet continues to create shows geared toward presenting ballet to young, first-time theatre goers. In the upcoming season of “Ballets for Children”, the company will perform Dreda Blow & Sebastian Loe’s Tortoise & the Hare.
At the end of the current season, in May, Northern Ballet will launch “Sketches”, a new choreographic development programme, which will build on the Company’s previous Choreographic Labs.
Devised by Bonelli, artists at different stages of their careers will have access to mentorship from leading choreographers to experiment with movement, ideas, and storytelling. Seven dancer-choreographers from the company will work with mentors Mthuthuzeli November, Kenneth Tindall, and Sharon Watson MBE DL to develop new work which they will present to audiences for the very first time.
The company choreographers for the inaugural “Sketches” program are
- Wesley Branch
- Harris Beattie
- Filippo Di Vilio
- Katharine Lee
- George Liang
- Gavin McCaig
- Bruno Serraclara
Northern Ballet 2023-2024 Season Schedule

Generations
September 8-16, 2023 | Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds
October 31 – November 2, 2023 | Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House, London
- World Premiere by Tiler Peck
- UK Premiere by Benjamin Ella
- Adagio Hammerklavier by Hans van Manen
Generations: Three Short Ballets is a trio of contemporary pieces created by choreographers from across the generations. Curated by Bonelli, the triple bill will feature a world premiere from American ballet dancer and choreographer Tiler Peck – her first choreographic commission for a European ballet company, a UK premiere by emerging choreographer and Royal Ballet Soloist Benjamin Ella, and the contemporary classic Adagio Hammerklavier by Dutch master Hans van Manen.
Tiler Peck says: “It is an absolute honour to be creating a new work for Northern Ballet. I have always admired Federico’s work and was humbled when he asked me if I would make a new commission for the company. This will be my first time choreographing for a European company and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Northern Ballet’s incredibly versatile dancers. I recently performed at Sadlers Wells and was overwhelmed by the support from audiences. I am very much looking forward to coming back to the UK and sharing a new work with them.”
Benjamin Ella says: “I’m very excited about working with Northern Ballet and presenting this piece. I’m certainly quite new to this craft, but with these fresh eyes and an open mind I feel I have nothing to lose and just so much to learn and explore! I’m very grateful to Federico and Northern Ballet for giving me this wonderful opportunity.”

Beauty & The Beast
October 4-7, 2023 | Nottingham Theatre Royal
November 7-11, 2023 | Newcastle Theatre Royal
November 21-25, 2023 | Norwich Theatre Royal
June 4-9, 2024 | Leeds Grand Theatre
- Beauty & the Beast by David Nixon
Choreographed by David Nixon CBE and set to a hand-picked score of classic music from the likes of Bizet and Debussy, Beauty & The Beast will be accompanied by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia.
When a terrifying creature threatens her father, Beauty selflessly leaves her family to live with the Beast in his castle. As time goes by, she grows strangely fond of her host, who hides an extraordinary secret… a curse that can only be broken by true love.

The Nutcracker
November 29 – December 10, 2023 | Leeds Grand Theatre
- The Nutcracker by David Nixon
Performed to Tchaikovsky’s enduring score, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, The Nutcracker awakens childlike imagination in us all.
Share in Clara’s adventures as she is swept away by her Nutcracker Prince into an enchanting winter wonderland. Don’t miss dazzling dancing snowflakes, the famous Sugar Plum Fairy and the notorious Mouse King in the ultimate festive entertainment.

Romeo & Juliet
March 8-16, 2024 | Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds
April 2-6, 2024 | Sheffield Lyceum Theatre
April 30 – May 4, 2024 | Nottingham Theatre Royal
May 14-18, 2024 | Norwich Theatre Royal
May 28 – June 1, 2024 | Sadlers Wells, London
- Romeo & Juliet by Massimo Morricone
Northern Ballet will restage their critically acclaimed production of Christopher Gable CBE and Massimo Morricone’s Romeo & Juliet. Breathing new life into this classic piece, Northern Ballet will work with members of the original creative team to bring this much-loved work back into repertoire and present it to audiences around the UK.
Featured Photo for the Northern Ballet 2023-2024 season of Sarah Chun. Photo by Guy Farrow.