Ticket price
*Young RBO ticket prices for selected performances
Dates
Location
Approximate timings
The performance will last approximately 3 hours, including two intervals
Expand all dates
Thursday 8 October, 7.30pm
Saturday 10 October, 1.00pm
Saturday 10 October, 7.00pm
Guidance
Suitable for all
There is a gunshot in ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café – Southern Cape Zebra.
Generous support from
Exceptional philanthropic support from
Royal Ballet and Opera Principal The Julia Rausing Trust
Generous philanthropic support from
Doug and Ceri King and the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund
The 2026/27 Royal Ballet Season is generously supported by
Aud Jebsen
Programme
In celebration of The Royal Ballet School’s centenary, The Royal Ballet revives gems from the Company archives. Bringing together dancers from The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and The Royal Ballet School, these special performances honour an illustrious history, a luminous present and a vibrant future.
Discover
Founded by Dame Ninette de Valois
The history
From the School’s roots under the guiding hand of Founder Ninette de Valois in 1926 and the creative genius of Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton, a century of inspired artistic vision has established an exceptional training tradition. With generations of graduates among the ranks of both Companies, The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet owe their illustrious reputations to The Royal Ballet School.
A showcase
The production
A Centenary Celebration is a rare opportunity to see the Royal Ballet School and Companies join forces in a grand showcase honouring the history, legacy and future of the School.
A suite from Ninette de Valois’ Checkmate featuring Royal Ballet School and leading Royal Ballet dancers opens the programme, as well as Frederick Ashton’s Birthday Offering with Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet dancers performing together. Also featuring both companies performing together will be Nimbus by Royal Ballet Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor.
Excerpts from other ballets and choreographers associated with the School and Companies will include Swan Lake, Kenneth MacMillan’s Winter Dreams and Manon, and David Bintley’s ’Still Life’ at the Penguin Café. A work by Joshua Junker and an excerpt from The McRae/Vassilev Project will also be presented.
Three new works are being created especially for this occasion. Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon choreographs a work on Lauren Cuthbertson and Lukas B. Brændsrød, and Cathy Marston creates a new duet inspired by her recent Royal Ballet work Against the Tide with Matthew Ball and William Bracewell. Valentino Zucchetti’s new creation brings together dancers from both Companies and across all years of the School in a rousing finale to the celebrations.
Gallery
Accessibility and resources
There is lift access and there are step-free routes to over 100 seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony and Amphitheatre. Some seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony, Amphitheatre and the Donald Gordon Grand Tier are accessed by 9 steps or fewer. There are 10 steps or more to access seats in the Orchestra Stalls.
You can use the assistive listening systems in our auditoriums. Surtitles, captions and translations in English are displayed on screens above the stage and around the auditorium.
Join our Access Scheme for priority access to tickets and to inform us of your access requirements.
See our Accessibility page for more information or view a visitors guide (PDF, 12.0 MB).
Be the first to know
Sign up to hear the latest Royal Ballet and Opera news, receive ticket alerts, and discover how to support us.