English National Ballet: Lest We Forget, London
ENB’s new partnership with Sadler’s Wells allows it to use the Wells as a platform for its more experimental programming. This autumn sees a reprise of the evocative Lest We Forget, a triple bill of ballet and modern dance inspired by the first world war. Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant and Liam Scarlett test the dancers in a wide diversity of styles, with Khan’s Dust looking at the empowerment of women during war, Maliphant’s Second Breath exploring the theme of sacrifice, and Scarlett’s No Man’s Land portraying the anguish of lovers separated by war.
Sadler’s Wells, Tue to 12 Sep
Northern Ballet 1984, Leeds
Former Royal Ballet choreographer Jonathan Watkins has begun making a reputation for himself as a choreographer of gritty, realistic texts. Last year, he worked on Kes for Sheffield Theatres, and this year he takes on one of the great dystopian novels of the last century, George Orwell’s 1984. The specific political detail of Orwell’s text may be difficult for ballet to convey, but Watkins will be focusing on its narrative heart, the story of Winston Smith, an ordinary man who dares to rebel against the system when he falls in love. Set to music by Alex Baranowski, with designs by Simon Daw, the cast features Tobias Batley as Winston and the excellent Martha Leebolt as Julia.
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Sat to 12 Sep
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