Northern Ballet has announced that the company will make its live cinema debut with artistic director David Nixon’s Dracula, screened as it happens from the newly developed West Yorkshire Playhouse on, rather appropriately, Halloween evening, October 31, 2019. That follows a screening of Cathy Marston’s yet to premiere Victoria on June 25.
Both productions will be available in cinemas throughout the UK and marks Northern Ballet’s first venture into cinema with its full-length productions.
This announcement follows Northern Ballet’s cinema debut in January with children’s ballet Tortoise & the Hare. This is due to be followed by screenings of two more of the Company’s children’s ballets, meaning that Northern Ballet will offer a total of five different ballets for cinema audiences during its first year of presenting its productions on the big screen.
Northern Ballet’s arrival in cinemas now leaves Birmingham Royal Ballet as the UK’s only major ballet company not to have a cinema presence.
David Nixon says, “As the widest touring ballet company in the UK, Northern Ballet goes further to provide world-class ballet on the doorsteps of people throughout the UK. However, it is not possible to reach everybody with our live tour and so I am delighted that we will be offering Victoria and Dracula to cinema audiences throughout the country to enable even more people to access our productions.
“We pride ourselves on being innovative storytellers, pushing the boundaries of what stories can be told through dance and these two ballets are excellent demonstrations of that. In the hands of one of the most exciting choreographers of today, Cathy Marston’s Victoria takes the life of one of our most iconic monarchs and presents her story in a way never seen before. Whilst Dracula sees Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire brought to the stage in a ballet full of sensuality and darkness; perfect viewing for Halloween.
“We hope that through these cinema screenings, not only will ballet fans have more opportunities to see us perform but that others who may have never seen a ballet before will give it a try and discover a new passion for our art form.’
The cinema project has been made possible by the support of Northern Ballet’s longstanding sponsors First Direct Bank.
Tickets for Victoria and Dracula in cinemas are on sale now. To find your closest participating cinemas and to book tickets visit northernballet.com/cinema