Northern Ballet’s heart-warming new ballet for children Hansel & Gretel will be touring to theatres across the UK in spring 2025.
The production will première at Northern Ballet’s own Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre in Leeds from 15-22 February before embarking on an extensive UK tour, travelling to Hull, Oxford, Berwick, Edinburgh, Middlesbrough, Goole, Barrow, Doncaster, Harrogate, Durham, Mansfield, Corby, Bridlington, Huddersfield, Buxton, London and Crewe.
In an environmental reimagining of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel take a trip into the forest, unaware of the damage they leave behind. When they get lost, the siblings meet a host of spirited friends who teach them how we can all better look after the planet – and have some fun along the way!
The 40-minute ballet is designed for children aged three and above and their families to experience live dance, music and theatre together. It is the latest in Northern Ballet’s extensive repertoire of award-winning ballets for children, which have been touring around the UK for over a decade, including Tortoise & the Harewhich concluded its tour in May. Their other ballets include the hugely successful Three Little Pigs, Elves & the Shoemaker, Ugly Duckling and Goldilocks & the Three Bears, some having been shown in cinemas across the UK and all of which were adapted for TV by CBeebies.
To coincide with the ballet’s environmental message, most of the sets and costumes will be sustainably created with recycled materials. Northern Ballet’s highly skilled technical team have been working hard to source appropriate materials, such as collecting cans and bottles as materials for a character’s costume. This means the Company can reduce their own carbon footprint whilst encouraging others to do the same.
Many venues include a relaxed performancewhich, whilst open to anyone, aims to reduce anxiety around theatre visits, particularly for people with sensory or communication difficulties, or a learning disability. Northern Ballet will also be offering audio-described performances at their own Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre in Leeds, with other venues due to go on sale with audio description soon.
Hansel & Gretel will be choreographed by Northern Ballet Company Dancers George Liangand Harris Beattie. The two have starred in various named roles in many of Northern Ballet’s recent productions and have choreographed for the Company previously in Northern Ballet’s Sketches, a programme that showcases new choreographic talent. The ballet will be performed to live music which will be composed by Colin Scott, Northern Ballet’s Company Pianist. Designing sets and costumes is Ali Allen.
Some venues are on sale now, with more going on sale soon. For more information and details on how to book, please visit northernballet.com/hansel-and-gretel
Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre
15 – 22 February
Sat 15 Feb: 11am, 2pm, 4pm
Mon 17 – Thu 20 Feb: 11am, 1pm, 3pm
Fri 21 -Sat 22 Feb: 11am*, 2pm**, 4pm
Box Office 0113 220 8008
theatreleeds.com
Hull New Theatre
1 March, 14:00, 16:00*
Box Office 01482 300 306
hulltheatres.co.uk
Oxford Playhouse
Fri 7 Mar: 14:00, 16:00
Sat 8 Mar: 11:00*, 13:00
Box Office 01865 305305
oxfordplayhouse.com
Berwick Maltings
22 March, 14:00, 16:00
Box Office 01289 330 999
maltingsberwick.co.uk
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
23 March, 13:30, 15:30
Box Office 0131 529 6000
capitaltheatres.com
Middlesbrough Theatre
26 March, 14:00, 17:30
Box Office 01623 463133
middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk
Goole Junction
29 March, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00*
Box Office 01405 763652
junctiongoole.co.uk
Barrow The Forum
5 April, 14:00, 16:00
Box Office 01229 820000
theforumbarrow.co.uk
Doncaster Cast
9 April, 14:00, 16:00*
Box Office 01302 303959
castindoncaster.com
Harrogate Theatre
15 April, 12:00, 14:00*, 16:00
Box Office 01423 502116
harrogatetheatre.co.uk
Durham Gala Theatre
19 April, 14:00, 16:00*, 18:00
Box Office 03000 266 600
galadurham.co.uk
Mansfield Palace Theatre
29 April, 13:00, 17:00
Book now 01623 463016
mansfield.gov.uk
Corby Cube
30 April, 14:00, 17:00*
Box Office 01536 470470
thecorecorby.com
Bridlington Spa
7 May, 14:00, 16:00*
Box Office 01262 678 258
bridspa.com
Lawrence Batley Huddersfield
17 May, 12:00, 14:00*, 16:00
Box Office 01484 430528
thelbt.org
Buxton Opera House
27 May, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00*
Box Office 01298 72050
buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
Linbury Theatre (Royal Ballet & Opera)
29-31 May, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00
Box Office (0)20 7304 4000
roh.org.uk
Crewe Lyceum
7 June, 14:00, 16:00
Box Office 0343 310 0050
crewelyceum.co.uk
* Relaxed performance
**Audio described performance
