Black Sabbath – the ballet, set to open in Birmingham

Tickets for September premiere go on sale tomorrow

Birmingham Royal Ballet have today announced Black Sabbath – The
Ballet will have its world premiere at Birmingham Hippodrome in September 2023.

The full-length, three-act, Ballet Now commission comes to the theatre from Saturday 23 –  Saturday 30 September and brings together a host of international creatives including lead Swedish choreographer Pontus Lidburg, Cuban designer Alexandra Arrechea and Tony Award winning composer Christopher Austin, with additional choreographers Raúl Reinoso and Cassi Abranches, and composers Marko Nyberg and Sun Keting. Richard Thomas is dramaturg for the project and lighting design is by Kieron Johnson.

The ballet will feature eight Black Sabbath tracks – ‘Paranoid’ (Paranoid, 1970); Ironman (Paranoid, 1970); ‘War Pigs’ (Paranoid, 1970); ‘Black Sabbath’ (Black Sabbath, 1970); ‘Solitude’ (Master of Reality, 1971); ‘Orchid’ (Master of Reality, 1971); Laguna Sunrise (Vol 4,1972) and ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973). The music will be re-orchestrated and played alongside new compositions inspired by Black Sabbath, all performed live by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Black Sabbath – The Ballet is the second Birmingham-focussed commission from their director, Cuban-born Carlos Acosta, and the idea had been on his mind since he first arrived in Birmingham at the start of 2020, just before the pandemic hit.

Sabbath played their first ever gig in The Crown pub just a stone’s throw from Birmingham Royal Ballet’s base on Thorp Street. The pub was recently saved from demolition and is deemed a heritage site by fans.

Acosta said: “Black Sabbath is probably Birmingham’s biggest export, the most famous (and infamous) cultural entity to ever emerge from the city – so I was naturally drawn to the idea of a collaboration between what most people might think are the most unlikely of partners. The band’s enthusiasm for the project is a huge endorsement. They are putting their trust in us to deliver something completely new and original, and that’s quite a responsibility but one that we are beyond excited to take on. Everyone in the BRB company is thrilled to be involved and we cannot wait to share the vision for the show in more detail in the coming months. I have hand picked the creative team and will work closely with them to make a spectacular show.“

Black Sabbath co-founder, lead guitarist, co-songwriter and local resident Tony Iommi said “I’m looking forward to seeing how this all develops! Black Sabbath have always been innovators and never been predictable, and it doesn’t come any more unpredictable than this! I’d never imagined pairing Black Sabbath with Ballet but it’s got a nice ring to it! I’ve met with Carlos several times and his enthusiasm is infectious. I performed alongside some of the dancers at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony and they had an incredible energy, so I’m happy to go along for the ride with them and see you on the other side!”