Turn up the volume on Birmingham’s musical legacy as Black Sabbath meets ballet

After a sell-out opening season in 2023 and international tours in 2024 and 2025, Carlos Acosta is turning up the volume on Birmingham’s musical legacy once more when Black Sabbath – The Ballet returns this autumn.

Black Sabbath – The Ballet is a spectacular theatrical experience, featuring thrilling dance and original Black Sabbath recordings (including Paranoid and Iron Man) alongside full orchestrations of their work and original orchestral compositions inspired by the sound of metal – all performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Black Sabbath forged their unique sound in Birmingham. This is what drew Carlos Acosta to both the band’s work and its musical legacy as the originators of heavy metal.

This full-evening ballet is 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). Alongside award-winning writer Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer, The Opera) they create an extraordinary metal symphony over three acts. Black Sabbath themselves were closely involved in developing this unique collaboration.

Sparks fly again with the return of this intriguing response to Black Sabbath’s music and legacy – the first true heavy metal ballet experience.

Header image description: One performer strikes a pose against a deep red background. They are wearing ballet pointe shoes and a black lace dress with a relaxed tutu. They hold an electric guitar that is the same red colour as the background. They are bending to the right, legs bent, both feet en pointe. Their black hair is flying in the motion of playing the guitar.

Header image © Perou