The Queen is coming to Yorkshire
with world première of Victoria ballet biopic
World Première: Leeds Grand Theatre, 9 – 16 March 2019
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield, 19 – 23 March 2019
Next month, Yorkshire is receiving a royal visit like no other as Northern Ballet brings the sensational story of Queen Victoria to life in dance with the world première of Victoria, a ballet by Cathy Marston.Coinciding with the 200th anniversary year of the birth of one of Britain’s most iconic monarchs, theworld première will take place at Leeds Grand Theatre from 9 – 16 March 2019 followed by a UK tour including performances at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield from 19 – 23 March 2019.
Victoria tells the astounding life story of Queen Victoria through the eyes of her youngest child and lifelong companion Beatrice. Travelling back in time from Victoria’s death bed, Beatrice relives her memories of her mother as a secluded widow before discovering her anew as she transcribes the Queen’s intimate diaries. Wife, mother, lover, Empress; Victoria presents the various, often conflicting faces of this emblematic monarch.
Victoria is choreographed and directed by the internationally acclaimed Cathy Marston, who also created Northern Ballet’s critically-acclaimed Jane Eyre which was nominated for a South Bank Sky Arts Award. It will be performed to live music with an original score by Philip Feeney whose previous scores for Northern Ballet include Jane Eyre and Cinderella. Sets and costumes are designed bySteffen Aarfing whose recent projects include designs for Król Roger at the Royal Opera House. Lighting is designed by Alastair West who was recently nominated at the Knight of Illumination Awards for his designs for Northern Ballet’s Casanova. Dramaturgy is by British director and writer Uzma Hameed whose previous projects include Woolf Works for The Royal Ballet. The scenario for Victoriahas been written by Marston and Hameed in collaboration.
David Nixon OBE, Artistic Director of Northern Ballet, said: ‘Queen Victoria is arguably one of the most iconic women of all time. The legacy of her extraordinary reign extends into the current day and we are privileged to be able to tell her story in dance.’
Cathy Marston said: ‘Victoria’s life was full of extraordinary innovations and characters and I feel very inspired by the unusual perspective of Victoria’s daughter Beatrice, from whom we hope to discover our iconic, but nevertheless elusive subject. Responsible for shaping much of what we know of Queen Victoria today, this mother/daughter relationship will be both a historically and emotionally compelling engine for our new ballet.’
Tickets for Leeds Grand Theatre are on sale now. To book visit leedsgrandtheatre.com or call 0844 848 2700*.
Tickets for the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield are on sale now. To book visit sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or call 0114 249 6000.
Victoria is a co-production between Northern Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada.
Northern Ballet is holding events at both theatres including audio-described performances and touch tours for visually-impaired patrons. For more information about additional events and workshops, visitnorthernballet.com/victoriaevents