Rambert’s Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby

Sadler’s Wells, London
5 August, 2025

Since its premiere, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, Rambert Dance’s spin-off from the hit television show, has been seen by over 200,000 audience members at home and internationally, many whom were likely new to dance.

And, it is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful show! The dancing and choreography are outstanding, the storytelling pitch-perfect. Perhaps best of all, it taps into the feel and mood of the television series really successfully. No-one is going to go away thinking it’s good, but not really ‘Peaky’.

Benoit Swan Pouffer’s choreography is inventive, fluid, imaginative, and narrative. Opening in the trenches of Flanders, Steven Wright’s adaptation of the story tells how the fictional Tommy Shelby, returning from the trenches of the World War One, traumatised and suffering from what we now know as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, became the lynch-pin of the Peaky Blinders gang in 1920s Birmingham, and intoxicated by the mysterious Grace. But there is actually no need of programme notes as the choreography weaves the story, clearly and boldly, pulling no punches.

Even the greatest choreography is reliant on the dancers to bring it to life, and the Rambert Dancers do this to perfection. Their execution is technically superb, emotionally charged and dramatically intense. And they can also act.

While everyone deserves credit, and the standing ovation they got, particular mention goes to Conor Kerrigan dancing Tommy, Adél Bálint as Ada, and Simone Damberg Würtz in the role of Polly. Elsewhere, Coke Löpez de la Madrid turned-in an extraordinary performance dancing the role of the factory foreman.

Moi Tran’s set is clean and modern, and compliments perfectly the in-period costumes designed by Richard Geller.

Peaky wouldn’t be Peaky without its music. The soundtrack here comprises 36 contemporary pop tracks, of which 23 were composed by Grammy nominated composer and singer, Roman Gianarthur. Alongside those are iconic Peaky tracks from Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Radiohead, Anna Calvi, The Last Shadow Puppets, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Played live by the supremely talented trio of Yarn Engler, Joe Downard, and Mitchel Emms, each enhances the storytelling, and blends with Pouffer’s choreography, creating a perfect backdrop for Tommy’s hero homecoming and subsequent descent into a dissolute and violent life.

Finally, Natasha Chivers’ lighting is the icing on the cake, immersing us in the World War One trenches, and then the opium dens and clubs of the underworld 1920s.

Peaky Blinders is a magnificent piece of dance theatre. Still one not to be missed. Catch it while you can.

Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is at Sadler’s Wells to August 16, 2025.