Pete Townshend’s 1973 rock masterpiece Quadrophenia, which spawned the 1979 film, is now a touring ballet, staged by Sadler’s Wells, with June dates at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre.
Recorded by Pete’s band The Who, the album sold in its millions and became a defining soundtrack for the Mod movement and its generation of young adherents to its clothes, style and music. The 1979 feature film became a cult classic feature, making household names of actor-musician Sting and actors Leslie Ash and Tim Daniels.
The sharp suits, soul music, Vespa scooters and Parka coats of the 1960s, plus the themes of lost youth, rebellion, the search for belonging and hunger for social change, are brought to the stage in an orchestral, ballet production with a score arranged by Rachel Fuller and Martin Batchelar – first heard live at London’s Royal Albert Hall, and recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Having begun in Plymouth, the production will continue touring in England, prior to having its official opening at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London before visiting Salford in July.
The choreographer is by Paul Roberts and Director Rob Ashford has brought together some of the UK’s finest music, theatre, film and dance talent, with costume by designers Paul Smith and Natalie Pryce, projection by Nick Hillel and lighting design by Fabiana Piccioli.
Paris Fitzpatrick – who won Outstanding Male Modern Performance for his Romeo in New Adventures’ recent production of Romeo and Juliet at the National Dance Awards – performs the lead role of Jimmy.
Pete Townshend has said: ‘Quadrophenia is the only Who album that I solely composed and produced (1973) and the movie that followed in 1979 launched the careers of some of the finest young actors of the time. In 2016 Rachel Fuller agreed to create an orchestral score of the album. When I first heard a demo of this version, without vocals, my first thought was that it would make a powerfully rhythmic and emotionally engaging ballet. Workshopped in 2023, that thought became a reality and I knew we had something that would resonate with new audiences, and also bring joy, as it had in its other iterations for decades. The themes of young people growing up in difficult times are still so relevant. It’s going to be poignant, tender and poetic and epic.’
For the 14th June staging, the audience is invited to dress in their finest Mod or Rocker attire.
