Talks & Events

Northern Ballet Theatre offers a wide range of opportunities to find out more about one of our productions or learn more about what life in a ballet company is like. Click on the link below to find out what events are taking place at your local theatre:

Leeds Grand Theatre

Edinburgh, Festival Theatre

Nottingham, Theatre Royal

Belfast, Grand Opera House

London, Sadler's Wells

Norwich, Theatre Royal

Sheffield, Lyceum Theatre

Manchester, Palace Theatre

Milton Keynes Theatre

Llandudno, Venue Cymru

Theatre, Woking

Ballet Explored
Takes place prior to a midweek matinee performance at the theatre. A 30-minute talk is followed by the chance to watch the dancers take their daily ballet class for 30 minutes on stage. Talks are delivered by one of the staff of Northern Ballet Theatre and provide information about the company, the production, touring life and dance education and are often packed with fascinating anecdotes.

Pre-performance talks
These are informative talks given by a member of Northern Ballet Theatre staff. The 30-minute talk aims to provide additional insight into the performance, the creative process, including choreography, design and music of the production.

Audio described performances
Northern Ballet Theatre is committed to ensuring that ballet is made as accessible to as many people as is possible, and offer a number of audio described performances to accompany our productions. Audio described performances are always preceded by the opportunity to take part in touch tours and workshop specifically designed for those with visual impairments.

Touch tours and workshops for visually impaired patrons
Our touch tours allow a unique opportunity to go onto the stage and explore the sets and costumes before the performance begins, giving a better idea of the stage layout. These are followed by a practical workshop for visually impaired patrons. Designed to enhance and add extra value to the experience of going to the ballet the workshops are created specifically with the needs of visually impaired patrons in mind, and require no previous dance experience.

Open workshops
A perfect opportunity for a fun introduction to Northern Ballet Theatre and dance, whether you have danced all your life or have two left feet! Open workshops explore character development and themes from the production, and age groups for workshops vary according to the production.

The Nutcracker Family Fun Day
A chance to get in the Christmas mood with dance and craft workshops based on themes from The Nutcracker. Learn dances from the show and put your creative skills into action with our ‘make your own..’ craft workshop. Designed for those with no previous dance experience, this is a chance for the whole family to get creative, before you all sit back, relax and enjoy the show. .

Workshop for Over 55s
Including a workshop, a talk from Northern Ballet Theatre staff and a chance to watch the dancers’ daily class on stage, this event is the perfect introduction to Northern Ballet Theatre for enthusiastic over 55s. The event is a chance to try something different for a morning in a relaxed and fun atmosphere while gaining an additional insight into the performance, the creative process, including choreography, design and music of the production.

Schools Production Events
A unique event offering an insight into the creation of a production including set and lighting design, from Northern Ballet Theatre staff. A talk and demonstration from the technical crew will explain the process of getting a production from page to stage. This free event is open to all school groups attending a performance of the production.