The Maiden of Venice: Carlos Acosta reimagines La Bayadère for Birmingham Royal Ballet
The Maiden of Venice, Carlos Acosta‘s reimagining of the 19th-century classic La Bayadère, will receive its world premiere at Birmingham Hippodrome in September 2026.
Recently, the ballet’s narrative has become problematic for its ‘cultural appropriation’ so, for Birmingham Royal Ballet, Acosta moves the time and place from ancient India to Renaissance Venice, to avoid giving offence while maintaining “the universal messages and richness of this precious work of art”. This new setting is brought to life through set and costume designs by Anna Fleischle, lighting by Lucy Carter and new arrangements of Minkus’s score by Graham Sutherland.
The company has never had a full-length La Bayadère in the repertoire, and performing it will give the company a chance to showcase the virtuosity of the current dancers.
Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Acosta said:
I am so thrilled to announce this new production. Since arriving at BRB five years ago I have always had a vision of re-making La Bayadère. It is such an important ballet, to me personally, but also to the sector and to audiences. I understand why it has become problematic, but I feel passionate about not allowing it to be buried or to be, in effect, cancelled. There are so many reasons why moving it to Renaissance Venice works so well for the storytelling, and I am so happy that my Company of amazing dancers will have the opportunity to perform this new version.
The story: Admiral Sandro returns victorious to Venice to prepare for his marriage to the daughter of the Doge. He learns that his childhood love, Nicola, is about to become a nun, and when they meet, they declare their love for each other. Nicola’s guardian, Bishop Olivolo, overhears their declaration. The Bishop is also in love with Nicola, and he vows to destroy Sandro.
The Maiden of Venice “tells a powerful story of love, lust, betrayal and murder”. Designer Anna Fleischle’s 2015 (whose designs for the play Hangmen won her the Olivier, Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Award, and a Tony Award nomination) says that her vision of Venice evokes “its haunted beauty and mystery illuminated by the ever-shifting presence of water, light, and reflection.” Her sets have been specially designed for touring.
The Maiden of Venice will premiere at the Birmingham Hippodrome and run from 26 September to 3 October 2026. The official opening night will be Tuesday 29 September. Tickets go on general sale on Tuesday 20 May. Further dates to be announced.
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
This is such good news as I have always wanted to see BRB perform La Bayadere, and as you pointed out to me in a message, Carlos Acosta is retaining the wonderfully hypnotic ‘Entry of the Shades’. It would be a great loss were that not there. I first saw it in a live cinema performance by the Bolshoi and was so entranced by that sequence; rather less so by the blackface make-up.