NEWS: UPCOMING DANCE SHOWS AT TRP
- Neill Kovacic-Clarke
- May 23
- 5 min read
The Theatre Royal Plymouth is the principle home of the performing arts in the South West and is the largest and most attended regional producing theatre in the country. Their mission is to develop and deepen people's engagement with pioneering creativity in Plymouth and the South West, delivering experiences that spark delight, expression and fulfilment. The venue offers three performance spaces of various sizes, the largest being The Lyric which accommodates the big touring productions. The Drum and The Lab are smaller, intimate spaces and often offer pioneering productions.
The venue has lots of fantastic dance productions coming up on The Lyric stage.
Take a look below.
Wednesday 28th May - Sunday 1st June 2025
Sadler’s Wells, Extended Play and Universal Music UK present Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet
Meet the new generation…
In 1973, guitar smashing rock genius Pete Townshend wrote Quadrophenia.
Recorded by The Who – it quickly became an iconic and multi-million selling album. Quadrophenia defined a generation and in 1979 inspired the cult classic feature film of the same name.
Now it’s back – this time as an explosive dance production – Quadrophenia, A Mod Ballet with a large cast of exceptional dancers, introducing new audiences to troubled mod Jimmy’s story while remaining true in spirit to the much-loved original.
Quadrophenia is steeped in the mythology of the 1960s – sharp suits, soul music, vespas and parkas but its themes of lost youth, rebellion, the search for belonging and hunger for social change are just as urgent today.
A rich, orchestral version of the album by Rachel Fuller, first heard in concert version at The Royal Albert Hall and recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is the backdrop for this adrenaline filled rollercoaster ride.
Choreographer Paul Roberts and Director Rob Ashford bring together some of the UK’s finest creative talent from the worlds of music, theatre, film and dance. With original costumes by renowned British fashion house Paul Smith and Natalie Pryce, projection by Nick Hillel and lighting design by Fabiana Piccioli.
Prepare to be blown away as the power of dance brings a whole new dimension to the raw energy and emotion of one of the UK’s most iconic rock albums.
Tuesday 3rd - Wednesday 4th June 2025
DANCE CONSORTIUM presents BALLET BC
Canada’s leading contemporary dance company make their highly anticipated return to the UK, taking on Crystal Pite and Johan Inger.
Vancouver-based Ballet BC (British Columbia) wowed audiences and critics on their debut visit to the UK in 2018 with their “superb, gorgeous energy” [The i], with standing ovations at every venue inspired by the “joyous technical expertise of this excellent company” [The Guardian].
In PASSING, legendary Swedish choreographer and longtime Ballet BC collaborator Johan Inger traverses a vast landscape of human emotion, taking audiences on an epic, theatrical, often touching ride. Inspired by climate catastrophe, PASSING explores relationships, from the intimate to the societal. Set to an original score by Amos Ben-Tal with selections from Erik Enocksson and Louis T. Hardin (aka Moondog), the sonic journey is as beautifully complex and captivating as the movement language throughout.
Originally created for Nederlands Dans Theater in 2008 and reimagined for Ballet BC, Frontier, by four-time Olivier award-winning Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite will take the stage in spring 2025. Featuring 24 dancers, the visionary, enigmatic Frontier examines the unknown – the characterization of dark matter, the personification of shadows. “As a creator, I find a pleasing parallel between what we don’t know about the universe, and what we don’t know about consciousness” says Pite. “Creation for me is about venturing into unknown territory and being in a generative relationship with doubt.”
Tuesday 22nd - Saturday 26th July 2025
In 1930s London ordinary people emerge from cheap boarding houses nightly to pour out their passions, hopes and dreams in the pubs and fog-bound streets of Soho and Fitzrovia. Step inside The Midnight Bell, a tavern where one particular lonely-hearts club gather to play out their lovelorn affairs of the heart; bitter comedies of longing, frustration, betrayal and redemption.
Inspired by the great English novelist Patrick Hamilton (Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky, Hangover Square) who created some of the most authentic fiction of his era; stories borne out of years of social interactions with the working man and woman at his favourite location – the London Pub.
Hailed by The Observer as ‘the undisputed king of dance theatre’, master storyteller Bourne has produced some of the most successful dance theatre productions of the last 30 years including Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Red Shoes and Edward Scissorhands.
Thursday 16th - Saturday 18th October 2025
Carlos Acosta is turning up the volume on Birmingham’s musical legacy. Original heavy metal heroes, Black Sabbath, provide the soundtrack for Black Sabbath – The Ballet. After its successful world premiere and UK tour in 2023, Black Sabbath – The Ballet returns for an international tour in 2024 and 2025.
Black Sabbath forged their unique sound in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s home city. In Black Sabbath – The Ballet, expect a spectacular theatrical evening featuring thrilling dance alongside full orchestrations of legendary Black Sabbath tracks such as Paranoid and Iron Man, as well as new orchestral works inspired by their music.
In the second of three Birmingham-focussed commissions, Carlos Acosta was drawn to both the band’s work and its musical legacy as the originators of heavy metal. This full-evening ballet promises to be a unique undertaking with three composers and three choreographers, led by renowned Choreographer Pontus Lidberg (whose work has been performed by the Swedish Royal Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet) and Composer Chris Austin (whose work includes orchestrating the White Stripes music for Wayne McGregor’s Chroma) working alongside award-winning writer Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer, The Opera) to create an extraordinary metal symphony over three acts.
Black Sabbath themselves have been closely involved in developing this unique collaboration. Sparks fly in this intriguing new response to Black Sabbath’s music and legacy – the first true heavy metal ballet experience.
Monday 17th - Saturday 22nd November 2025
THE DOUBLE OLIVIER AWARD-WINNING SMASH HIT RETURNS
A timeless fairytale and Academy Award-winning movie, The Red Shoes has captivated audiences and inspired generations of dancers with its powerful tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a fierce struggle between the two men who inspire her passion.
Matthew Bourne’s magical double Olivier Award-winning production of the legendary Powell and Pressburger film is set to a score orchestrated by Terry Davies, featuring the mesmerizing music of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, with sumptuous designs by Lez Brotherston (set and costumes), Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).
An intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences, The Red Shoes will dazzle your senses and break your heart.
Based on the film by MICHAEL POWELL and EMERIC PRESSBURGER and the HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN fairy tale. Music by BERNARD HERRMANN
Wednesday 18th - Saturday 21st March 2026
Carlos Acosta’s explosion of spectacular dance and vivacious comedy.
Birmingham Royal Ballet returns to the Theatre Royal Plymouth in March 2026 with the first revival of Director Carlos Acosta’s joyful production of Don Quixote, inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ classic novel.
Meet the famous knight himself, lovers Kitri and Basilio, and a host of supporting characters, all paired with spectacular dance and vivacious comedy.
If you like Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty, you shouldn’t miss this stunning 19th-century masterpiece, full of thrilling pas de deux and so much more!
Treat yourself and all your family to some Spanish sunshine.
Interested in any of the shows above? Simply click on the title highlighted in yellow to book tickets.
Neill Kovacic Clarke
All details in this article are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
To keep up to date with all the latest theatre news and more, follow Pink Prince Theatre on social media. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky and TikTok.