The Birmingham Royal Ballet

Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) is one of the three major ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside The Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet. Founded as the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet, the company was established in 1946 as a sister company to the earlier Sadler’s Wells company, which then moved to the Royal Opera House that same year. The ballet company subsequently became known as The Royal Ballet.

The new company was formed under the direction of John Field and remained at Sadler’s Wells for many years, becoming known as the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet in 1977. It also toured the UK and abroad, before relocating to Birmingham in 1990, where it uses the Birmingham Hippodrome stage when performing in the city. Birmingham Royal Ballet has extensive custom-built facilities, including a suite of dance studios, the Jerwood Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Dance Injuries and a studio theatre known as the Patrick Studio. In 1997, the Birmingham Royal Ballet became independent of The Royal Ballet in London.

CHRONOLOGY

1931 – Nanette de Valois founds a company at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. It is known as the Vic-Wells Ballet as it performed both at Sadler’s Wells Theatre and the Old Vic Theatre in London.

1940 – Sadler’s Wells Theatre is bombed during the war and consequently the company begins to tour widely throughout the country. At this point the name of the company is changed to the Sadler’s Wells Ballet.

1946 – The Company is invited to become the resident company of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. De Valois therefore decides to found a second company called Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet at Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

1951 – Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet undertakes a highly successful tour of the USA.

1955 – Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet temporarily loses its link with Sadler’s Wells Theatre and bases itself with its sister company at the Royal Opera House.

1956 – A Royal Charter is bestowed on both Companies and their joint school. The Sadler’s Wells Ballet becomes The Royal Ballet and Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet becomes the Touring Company of The Royal Ballet.

1970 – The Touring Company returns to base itself at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, while continuing to tour the country.

1977 – The Touring Company changes its name to Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, with Peter Wright as Director.

1987 – Birmingham Hippodrome and Birmingham City Council invites Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet to relocate to Birmingham.

1990 – Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet moves to a new home in Birmingham and changes its name to Birmingham Royal Ballet.

1995 – Peter Wright retires. David Bintley becomes Artistic Director.

2005 – Christopher Barron succeeds Derek Purnell as Chief Executive.

2010 – David Bintley’s new production of Cinderella is broadcast as the BBC’s Christmas ballet.

2015 – After year-long building works, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s refurbished Birmingham home officially opens for business in January. Jan Teo succeeds Christopher Barron as Chief Executive and Birmingham Royal Ballet celebrates 25 years in the City.

2019 – The Company announces the appointment of Carlos Acosta CBE to succeed David Bintley as Director. In June the performance of David Bintley’s Hobson’s Choice marks the end of his tenure as Director.

THE STORY OF THE STAGE

In the 1980s visiting companies including ballets were complaining that the stage at the Hippodrome was too small for their productions. This meant that Birmingham was going to miss out on some of the larger shows. So a plan was put in place to increase the size of the stage by acquiring the Mission Hall that stood behind the theatre This gave the Hippodrome the largest stage in the UK outside of London, meaning that the theatre was now able to stage major musicals, opera & ballet productions.

Then, in 1990, the Sadlers Wells Ballet Company decided to move from their London base, land was acquired in Thorpe Street adjacent to the Hippodrome to build a new dance centre for the ballet company. But there was something not quite right with the Hippodrome’s massive new stage.

It seems that ballet dancers do not like dancing on a stage with a rake, that is a slope, and like most theatres the Hippodrome’s stage sloped upwards from the front to the back. So, it had to be altered to give a level stage. But, you know how it is – you change one thing and it affects another. Without the rake the audience at the back of the stalls started complaining that they couldn’t see what was going on at the back of the stage.

So, the answer to that conundrum was to put the stalls seating onto a rake. In the photograph you can just about make out that the further back you get in the stalls the higher up you are. If you book seats in the stalls you’ll notice that as you enter from the rear of the auditorium you seem to be quite close to the ceiling.

Having gone past the BRB building which houses the ballet’s facilities, and the Hippodrome Stage Door we now cross the road.