Never Known

Never Known is a 2024 work by The Royal Ballet's Joshua Junker that is by turns slickly hypnotic and deeply stirring. To the intricate electronic sounds of Nils Frahm and Vikingur Ólafsson, dancers move in a mesmeric maze of groups and duets. 

A ballet dancer holds another dancer high above their shoulders with their head and arms draped downwards. They are flanked by three other dancers behind them. The stage is stark with a haze.

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Background

This work was the homegrown choreographer’s Main Stage choreographic debut, having previously created work for The Royal Ballet’s Draft Works programme and the Junior Company of the Dutch National Ballet. For this work, which premiered in 2024 during the Festival of New Choreography, Junker drew upon the classical ballet idiom, inflecting it with more organic, fluid movements taken from other dance styles and from everyday life. 

In describing the ballet in the programme, Junker said ’As we enter this uncertain future, we need to to deal with evolving technology while staying touch with our humanity, our connection to each other and the natural world. The dancers are people entering this new world, wondering how to shape their society in this new environment.’

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).

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