As death approaches, Elizabeth I of England is haunted by memories – real and imagined – of her cousin,  Mary, Queen of Scots.

Scottish Ballet - Mary, Queen of Scots

Sadler's Wells Theatre

2025 sees the return of Cassa Pancho's acclaimed Ballet Black - a company that has transformed the landscape of British ballet, creating a prominent platform for dancers and artists of Black and Asian descent, as well as establishing a new canon of ballet repertoire that resonates with audiences around the world.

Ballet Black will perform a double bill of work by leading choreographers. Award-winning choreographer, Chanel DaSilva explores what it means to be human in her new work which focuses on using the power of the arts to inspire change, in the dance world and beyond. Franco-British artist, and Choreographer in Residence at Scottish Ballet, Sophie Laplane explores triumph over adversity in If At First, inspired by the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Ballet Black: Double Bill

The Grange at Northington

Now in their 22nd year, Cassa Pancho's Ballet Black return to Stratford East with a new double bill, Ballet Black: HEROES. 

Award-winning choreographer, Mthuthuzeli November contemplates the purpose of life in The Waiting Game, his exciting and energetic work about the meaning of life, originally created in 2020, and infused with a dynamic soundtrack featuring the voices of the Ballet Black artists. 

Ballet Black: Heroes

Stratford East

Two women. Two crowns. One story. The US premiere of Scottish Ballet’s newest creation, Mary, Queen of Scots, is a sweeping dance-theater work exploring power, identity, and the reverberations of the Reformation amid Europe’s dynastic conflicts—England rise toward global supremacy. As Elizabeth I nears death, she is haunted by memories—real and imagined—of her cousin, Mary, the Queen of Scotland. Two queens who never met, locked in a fatal dance of sex, jealousy, political intrigue, and religious warfare. 

This major new production from Scottish Ballet’s choreographer-in-residence Sophie Laplane and co-creator James Bonas draws on the complex, combustible relationship between Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I of England — two women whose rivalry defined an era. Laplane’s bold choreography blends classical technique with contemporary edge, reshaping their story with powerful originality. 

Soutra Gilmour’s striking, contemporary set is complemented by gritty and glamorous costumes that capture the grandeur of the Tudor era, with nods to haute couture and subversive street style. Guest Artist Charlotta Öfverholm, as the older Elizabeth, brings her rich storytelling expertise to the company’s acclaimed ensemble. 

A longtime Festival favorite since its American debut at Spoleto in 1986, Scottish Ballet returns with this bold new work blending history, movement, and music in a vivid reflection on ambition and legacy. Celebrated for its contemporary interpretations and groundbreaking collaborations, this is an iconic story unconventionally told: where Renaissance meets punk, where classical ballet meets visceral theatre, and where history becomes urgent, immediate, and unmissable.

Sophie Laplane

Events

Upcoming events

28 - 30 May, 2026

Scottish Ballet: Mary, Queen of Scots · Spoleto Festival USA

Past events

5 - 8 Mar, 2026

Scottish Ballet - Mary, Queen of Scots · Sadler’s Wells Theatre

Jul 3, 2025

Ballet Black: Double Bill · The Grange Festival

About

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