Northern Ballet take Tortoise & The Hare on tour

Northern Ballet are taking their children’s ballet Tortoise & The Hare on the road kicking off at The Linbury theatre in London’s Royal Opera House from 27th – 29th January before embarking on an extensive UK tour.

Tortoise & the Hare is a child friendly re-imagining of Aesop’s much-loved fable of a Tortoise who tired of being teased for his slowness challenges a speedy Hare to a race with unexpected results.

Choreographed by former Northern Ballet dancers Dreda Blow and Sebastian Loe, Tortoise & the Hare premiered in 2015 and was the second children’s ballet by the pair. The production includes an original score composed by Bruno Merz, colourful set designs by Ali Allen and live music performed by members of the Northern Ballet Sinfonia.  

It’s a short ballet running for approximately 40 minutes, and has been created especially for children aged three and above and their families. It is a great way for budding dance fans to experience live movement, music and theatre at an affordable price.   

The show will visit Leeds, Buxton, Aylesbury, Stoke, Goole, Barrow, Huddersfield, Crewe, Corby, Oxford, York, Durham, Harrogate, Newcastle, Doncaster, Hartlepool, Hull, Mansfield, Middlesbrough, Barnsley, Bridlington, Bradford, Berwick and finally Edinburgh.

Many venues will include a relaxed performance which whilst open to anyone aims to reduce anxiety around theatre visits to help everyone have an enjoyable time. The relaxed shows may benefit people with sensory or communication difficulties, or a learning disability.

For the first time there will also be two audio described performances and accompanying touch tour during the run at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre which is Northern’s Leeds home.

Tickets are now on sale. For more information, on-sale dates and details on how to book visit www.northernballet.com/tortoise-and-the-hare