Northern Ballet Prepares For The Great Gatsby Tour [UPDATED 5/2/23]

Northern Ballet Prepares for The Great Gatsby Tour

After their Nutcracker run comes to end early next year, The Northern Ballet prepares for The Great Gatsby, a ballet choreographed by former Artistic Director David Nixon CBE.

The spring tour begins in March of 2023 at Leeds Grand Theatre followed by several performances at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre and London’s Sadler’s Wells.

Inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel set in the Roaring Twenties, Nixon’s adaptation features sets by Jérôme Kaplan and Chanel-inspired costumes designed by Nixon himself. Sir Richard Rodney Bennett’s CBE’s score will be played live by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia.

Having premiered in 2013, this version of The Great Gatsby earned Nixon a nomination for Best Classical Choreography in the 2014 National Dance Awards.

The Great Gatsby Principal Casting

Principal casting for the Sadler’s Wells May 16-20 performances includes two guest artists – Ryoichi Hirano and Minju Kang – who will dance on Friday and Saturday’s evening performances.

Ryoichi Hirano, who will dance in the role of Jay Gatsby, joined The Royal Ballet as a Prix de Lausanne apprentice in 2001, developing through the ranks of the company to Principal in 2016. He has also performed as Guest Principal for Norwegian National Ballet and Scottish Ballet.

Hirano will be partnered with fellow guest artist, former Northern Ballet Principal Soloist Minju Kang in the role of Daisy Buchanan. Kang joined Northern Ballet in 2016 and played numerous lead roles during her time with the Company, becoming a favourite with audiences and critics alike before leaving to join English National Ballet earlier this year.

‘This May marks 10 years since David Nixon CBE’s The Great Gatsby was first performed at Sadler’s Wells and what better way to celebrate than welcoming these two incredible artists to the stage alongside our talented Company of dancers.
Ryoichi and Minju bring their own unique take on Jay and Daisy and I look forward to seeing them light up the theatre in these roles once again.” – Federico Bonelli, Artistic Director of Northern Ballet

Also partnered as Gatsby and Daisy are Principal Soloist Joseph Taylor & First Soloist Dominique Larose and First Soloist Jonathan Hanks & Leading Soloist Sarah Chun.

"Like many, I fell in love with Fitzgerald's timeless novel at a young age and it continues to capture my imagination to this day. The glamour of the 1920's lends itself beautifully to the stage with stunning costumes and sets and the music by the late Sir Rodney Richard Bennett CBE transports the audience to an elusive time of lavish parties and prohibition and jazz. I’m thrilled that Federico has chosen to bring back this beloved production to theatres next Spring and I hope that audiences will continue to be delighted and entertained by the glitz and glamour of Fitzgerald’s captivating 20s once again."