Northern Ballet Returns to the Linbury with Three Short Ballets
Northern Ballet is heading back to the Royal Ballet and Opera’s Linbury Theatre with a triple bill that brings together some of dance’s most distinctive voices, past and present. Three Short Ballets pairs the return of an audience favourite with a company premiere and a brand-new world premiere – a programme that moves fluidly between contemporary storytelling and classic choreographic craft.
Fools returns
Mthuthuzeli November’s Fools first appeared as part of the Three Short Ballets programme in 2024, and it’s back by popular demand. Drawing on R.L. Peteni’s novel Hill of Fools alongside echoes of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, the piece tells a story of star-crossed lovers caught between two villages locked in bitter rivalry. November brings his signature blend of dance styles to the work, and it’s already picked up real recognition: a National Dance Award nomination for Best Classical Choreography, and an Olivier Award nomination for Northern Ballet Principal Dancer Sarah Chun, whose performance earned her a nod for Outstanding Achievement in Dance.
A company premiere: Five Tangos
Making its first appearance in Northern Ballet’s repertoire is Five Tangos, one of Hans van Manen‘s most celebrated works. First staged in 1977 and set to the music of Astor Piazzolla, the piece blends the precision of classical ballet with the heat and drama of the Argentine tango. It’s a work about connection in all its forms – flirtatious, fiery, ever-shifting – and van Manen’s choreography captures that restlessness with real wit.
A new world premiere from Tiler Peck
The programme’s third piece marks the return of New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Tiler Peck, following the success of her first commission for Northern Ballet. Peck made her UK company debut in 2023 with Intimate Pages, a work that was warmly received by critics and audiences alike. This time, she’s created an entirely new piece set to Franz Liszt’s Grande Étude de Paganini – performed live by a concert pianist, adding an extra layer of immediacy to the performance.
A gala opening night
The Linbury run opens with a special Gala evening in honour of Mrs Aud Jebsen, celebrating her long-standing support of ballet. The night will feature an expanded programme, with dancers from both Northern Ballet and The Royal Ballet sharing the stage as a tribute to her contribution to the art form.
Northern Ballet – Three Short Ballets
29 September – 2 October 2026
Linbury Theatre, The Royal Opera House
London Premiere
Choreographer Tyler Peck
Music Franz Liszt
Fools
Choreography Mthuthuzeli November
Music Alex Wilson & Mthuthuzeli November
Five Tangos
Choreography Hans van Manen
Music Astor Piazzolla
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 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.
