Birmingham Royal Ballet will revive Carlos Acosta’s Ballet Celebration: Diaghilev and the Birth of Modern Ballet as BRB2 embarks on its fourth UK tour in 2026. The gala-style production showcases highlights from the repertory of Serge Diaghilev’s influential troupe of dancers, musicians and designers.
BRB2 brings together exceptional young dancers aged 18 to 22 from around the world, offering audiences a chance to see future international stars at the beginning of their careers.
The programme features Les Sylphides in the first half, performed to live piano. The second half includes Scheherazade pas de deux, a solo and pas de deux from Les Biches, Le Spectre de la rose, and Firebird pas de deux. Each work remains faithful to Mikhail Fokine’s original choreography, sets and costumes, adapted to suit smaller stages.
The company will tour venues that do not always have access to classical ballet, bringing historic repertoire to new audiences. A recording by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, made exclusively for the tour, accompanies the second half of the programme.
The 2026 BRB2 cohort includes John Fontanini, Yasemin Kayabay, Yoli Meurisse, Charlotte Cohen, Andrea Riolo, Noah Cosgriff, Ellyne Knol and Ixan Llorca Ferrer. Apprentices Sophie Walters, Marlo Kempsey-Fagg and Alfie-Lee Hall will also appear with the company.
The tour begins at Everyman Theatre Cheltenham from 14 to 16 May, followed by Hall for Cornwall on 20 May, Northampton Royal & Derngate on 23 May, and New Theatre Peterborough on 29 May.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
