English National Ballet returns to Theatre Royal Plymouth this month after 36 years

English National Ballet will return to Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) this month (APRIL) after a 36 year hiatus; having last performed on The Lyric stage in 1990.

English National Ballet will be performing its latest programme, Body & Soul, which is an innovative double bill of works by Crystal Pite and Kameron N. Saunders. Currently playing at Sadler’s Wells, London, the production will head to TRP 30 April – 02 May 2026.

Pite originally created Body and Soul (Part 1) for Paris Opera Ballet and has seen her work performed by leading companies around the world. This is the first time English National Ballet has brought Pite’s choreography to the stage. The piece explores variations on a theme of connection and conflict. Dancers morph from intimate duets to surging crowds, weaving precision and fluidity into mesmerising waves of movement. 

Body and Soul (Part 1) has music by Owen Belton, with additional music by Frédéric Chopin, narration by Marina Hands, scenography by Jay Gower Taylor, costume design by Nancy Bryant, lighting by Tom Visser, and is staged by Eric Beauchesne and Jermaine Spivey.

Completing the programme is Proper Conduct, a world premiere from rising talent and acclaimed commercial dancer Kameron N. Saunders. Saunders has created pieces for Joffrey Ballet and Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and has built a huge following as a commercial dancer working with some of the world’s biggest artists, including Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan. His movement language is unique, athletic, genre-crossing, and intensely nuanced resulting in a contemporary style that is utterly his own. Proper Conduct is a powerful new work that imagines a world governed by scrutiny and observation, where visibility shapes value and behaviour is constantly negotiated.

Proper Conduct unfolds in three parts to an original score by Brandon Finklea and Harold Walker III, orchestrated by Gavin Sutherland and performed live by the English National Ballet Philharmonic. The creative team includes assistant choreographer Prince Lyons, designer Kimie Nakano and lighting designer Joshie Harriette.

TRP's Chief Executive and Executive Producer, James Mackenzie-Blackman, said: “We can’t wait to welcome English National Ballet back to Theatre Royal Plymouth this spring after nearly four decades. Having the world-class company perform here highlights our commitment to bringing outstanding productions to our South West audiences and also reinforces Plymouth’s place as a major destination for prominent dance and performance.”

Tickets are on sale now, ranging from £18 to £42. Visit Theatre Royal Plymouth website to book: https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/body-and-soul/