Northern Ballet is set to bring the extraordinary life of Anne Lister to the stage with the world premiere of a brand-new full-length ballet, Gentleman Jack, opening in Yorkshire in spring 2026.
From March next year, audiences in Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford will be among the first in the world to see this powerful new production, which tells the story of the 19th-century Yorkshire woman whose life and loves challenged the conventions of her time. Performances will take place at Leeds Grand Theatre from 7 to 14 March 2026, followed by dates in Sheffield from 31 March to 4 April, and Bradford from 3 to 5 September, as part of a wider UK tour.
Anne Lister, often described as the “first modern lesbian”, lived boldly and unapologetically in a society that expected women to be neither. A landowner, businesswoman and prolific diarist, she documented her relationships, ambitions and inner life in coded journals that were discovered after her death. Those diaries revealed a fiercely independent woman who loved other women openly, travelled widely and refused to conform. Her life has since inspired books and a hit BBC and HBO television series, but this new ballet will be the first large-scale dance production to bring her story to the stage.
Gentleman Jack is Northern Ballet’s first major commission since 2021 and the first created under Artistic Director Federico Bonelli. Choreography comes from internationally acclaimed Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, working alongside dance artist and singer-songwriter Jemima Brown as choreography consultant. The creative team is predominantly female and includes Sally Wainwright, writer of the television series Gentleman Jack, with an original live score composed by Peter Salem.
Federico Bonelli said the response since the ballet was announced has been overwhelming. “Creating something entirely new is always exhilarating,” he said, “but this time we also have the privilege of portraying a real person through choreography and storytelling. Annabelle has pushed the boundaries of classical ballet to express the passion between Anne Lister and two of the great loves of her life, Ann Walker and Mariana Lawton. This is a story rooted in the North, but one that feels both timeless and strikingly contemporary.”
The ballet explores Anne’s adult life as recorded in her journals, charting her defiance of social norms as a female landowner and entrepreneur, as well as the emotional intensity of her relationships. Particular focus is given to her love for Mariana Lawton, believed to be the great love of her life, and her later partnership with Ann Walker, a relationship sealed in what is widely considered Britain’s first recorded lesbian wedding.
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa has worked closely with dramaturg Clare Croft, a dance historian and theorist, to ensure the production remains grounded in history while speaking clearly to modern audiences. Set and lighting design comes from Christopher Ash, with costumes by Louise Flanagan, which draw inspiration from 1830s fashion alongside contemporary queer style to create a fresh take on period dress.
The production has already received international recognition, having been awarded the FEDORA – Van Cleef & Arpels Dance Prize 2025. The prize celebrates dance works that rethink how ballet is made and who it is made for. FEDORA Director Edilia Gänz said the organisation was delighted to support “an ambitious new work of great artistic vision” and looked forward to its world premiere in Leeds.
Alongside the production, Northern Ballet’s Learning Team will launch a wide-ranging schools programme inspired by themes of identity, allyship and compassion. Drawing on the approach of Scottish Ballet’s Safe to Be Me initiative, the programme aims to help young people challenge prejudice, celebrate difference and express themselves freely.
Gentleman Jack is a co-production between Northern Ballet and the Finnish National Opera and Ballet. Following its Leeds opening, the tour will also visit Sheffield, Nottingham, London, Norwich, Salford and Bradford. Each venue will include an audio-described performance to improve accessibility for audiences with visual impairments.
Tickets are on sale now. Full details and booking information can be found at northernballet.com/gentleman-jack.
