THE world premiere of Northern Ballet’s new full-length ballet – Gentleman Jack – is set to captivate Yorkshire audiences as part of a nationwide tour from March.
This groundbreaking ballet will bring to the stage the life of the 19th century icon, Anne Lister.
Yorkshire woman Anne, described by some as the "first modern lesbian", lived, dressed and loved as she desired, not as 19th century society expected her to. Her diaries were discovered and de-coded after her death, revealing a bold, passionate, independent, well-travelled businesswoman who defied societal norms and loved as fiercely as she lived.
Her story has inspired biographies, novels and a hit TV series, and this – Northern Ballet's first large-scale commission since 2021 and the first under Artistic Director Federico Bonelli - is the only production to bring it to life through the powerful medium of dance.
Choreographed by the multi-award-winning Annabelle Lopez Ochoa with dance artist and singer/songwriter Jemima Brown (choreography consultant) as part of a majority female artistic team that also includes Sally Wainwright (series-writer of the BBC/HBO TV series Gentleman Jack), the ballet will be performed to new, live music composed by Peter Salem.
Gentleman Jack will open at Leeds Grand Theatre on March 7 before touring to Sheffield, Nottingham, London, Norwich, Salford and Bradford.
Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director, Federico Bonelli said: “Since we announced Gentleman Jack, we have been blown away by the intense anticipation shown for this new ballet. Creating something entirely new is always exhilarating and this time we have the added excitement of creating a portrait of a real person through the choreography and storytelling, it’s a real honour for the whole creative team.
“Annabelle has done an incredible job to really push the boundaries of classical ballet – to communicate the passion between Anne Lister and two of her great loves, Ann Walker and Mariana Lawton, through dance. It’s everything that Northern Ballet represents – a story rooted in the North, but which will resonate with audiences all over the country as both timeless and contemporary.
“Anne was a complex character, her inimitable life and revolutionary attitude towards sexuality and her viewpoint on class and politics is something we are dedicated to representing on the stage and we look forward to sharing our interpretation of this legendary woman with audiences.”
Annabelle has worked closely alongside dramaturg, Clare Croft - a dance theorist and historian, to create a story which brings to life on stage an Anne Lister borne of history but seen through a modern lens. The production draws on elements of Anne’s adult life as depicted in her own journal, following her experience as she defies conventions of the times as both a female landowner and businesswoman whilst navigating the complexities of queer love and societal expectations. This includes her passionate and often painful love affairs with women including Mariana Lawton – thought to be the true love of her life – to finding a life partner in Ann Walker, a relationship cemented in what’s thought to be Britain's first recorded lesbian wedding.
The ballet features set and lighting design by Christopher Ash and costumes by Louise Flanagan, who has drawn on inspiration from the 1830s as well as lesbian and queer dress in modern fashion to create a contemporary feel to the period dress.
Alongside the creation of Gentleman Jack, Northern Ballet's Learning Team will launch a comprehensive school education programme. By supporting young people to challenge prejudice, celebrate diversity and express themselves, Northern Ballet hopes to make a lasting impact.
Gentleman Jack is a co-production of Northern Ballet and Finnish National Opera and Ballet.
Tickets are now on sale, visit northernballet.com/gentleman-jack to find out more and book.
Each venue will offer an audio-described performance to improve accessibility for those with visual impairments.
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