From March 2026, the world premiere of Northern Ballet’s new full-length ballet – Gentleman Jack – is set to captivate Yorkshire audiences as part of a nationwide tour, with performances in Leeds (7-14 March 2026), Sheffield (31 March – 4 April) and Bradford (3-5 September).

Continuing Northern Ballet’s masterful canon of creating stories that connect, this groundbreaking ballet will bring to the stage the life of the 19^th century icon, Anne Lister.

Yorkshirewoman Anne, described by some as the “first modern lesbian”, lived, dressed and loved as she desired, not as 19^th century society expected her to. Her diaries were discovered and decoded after her death, revealing a bold, passionate, independent, well-travelled businesswoman who defied societal norms and loved as fiercely as she lived.

Her story has inspired biographies, novels and a hit TV series, and this – Northern Ballet’s first large-scale commission since 2021 and the first under Artistic Director Federico Bonelli – is the only production to bring it to life through the powerful medium of dance.

Choreographed by the multi-award-winning Annabelle Lopez Ochoa with Dance Artist and singer/songwriter Jemima Brown (Choreography Consultant) as part of a majority female artistic team that also includes Sally Wainwright (series-writer of the BBC/HBO TV series Gentleman Jack), the ballet will be performed to new, live music composed by Peter Salem.

Gentleman Jack will open in Leeds before touring to Sheffield, Nottingham, London, Norwich, Salford and Bradford.

Tickets are now on sale, visit northernballet.com/gentleman-jack to find out more and book.

Each venue will offer an audio-described performance to improve accessibility for those with visual impairments.

Picture by Guy Farrow