Northern Ballet Gentleman Jack
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Breaking with 19th century expectations, Anne Lister dances to the beat of her own drum
Masters of storytelling Northern Ballet bring to the stage the extraordinary story of Anne Lister – better known as Gentleman Jack.
A powerful Yorkshire woman often referred to as ‘the first modern lesbian’, it was only after her death when her secret diaries were decoded that a truly exceptional life was uncovered. Anne lived, dressed and loved as she desired, not as 19th century society expected her to. With her words dancing across the pages, she vividly chronicled her adventures, heartbreaks and triumphs with striking honesty and wit.
Inspiring biographies, novels, a hit TV series and now a ballet, Anne’s story leaps from page to stage in this thrilling new production choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and performed to new live music by Peter Salem.
Gentleman Jack is a co-production of Northern Ballet and Finnish National Opera and Ballet.
Header image © Guy Farrow
Header image description: Two perfomers strike a pose against a watercolour, faded background of blue, grey and pink. One perfomer is in black with a top hat, and the other in pink with frilly sleeves. The perfomer in black stands strong with a cane in front of them, the perfomer in pink is doing a backbend.
Audio Described Performances
There are a limited number of Stalls seats reserved for partially sighted patrons, and headsets available for those wishing to listen to the audio description, please email tickets@sadlerswells.com if you wish to book these optionsTouch Tour
Visually impaired patrons can go on a Touch Tour before the performance. Your tour guide will take you backstage, or onto the stage itself, to feel costumes and pieces of the set and learn more about the production.Northern Ballet is currently on a roll
★★★★ MAIL ON SUNDAY on Casanova
A pulse-quickeningly exciting and stirring production
★★★★ THE TELEGRAPH on Romeo and Juliet
Jane Eyre has been reimagined a thousand times before, but maybe never quite so perfectly as this production by Northern Ballet.
★★★★★ THE YORKSHIRE POST on Jane Eyre
Who was Anne Lister?
Anne Lister, or Gentleman Jack as she became known, lived at Halifax’s Shibden Hall. She made her mark as she refused to live like society expected her — dressing how she wanted, running her business how she chose and, if the rumours were true, scandalising 19th century sensibilities through her romances with women. After her death, her secret diaries were deciphered, and the rumours were proved correct. Anne’s love affairs with society women were uncovered as well as insights into her business know-how and determination to make Shibden Hall a great country estate. Now often called ‘the first modern lesbian’, her diaries, landownership, travels and business ventures have captivated audiences around the world.
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Performances
Audio Described Performances
There are a limited number of Stalls seats reserved for partially sighted patrons, and headsets available for those wishing to listen to the audio description, please email tickets@sadlerswells.com if you wish to book these optionsTouch Tour
Visually impaired patrons can go on a Touch Tour before the performance. Your tour guide will take you backstage, or onto the stage itself, to feel costumes and pieces of the set and learn more about the production.
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