World premiere of Peaky Blinders inspired dance show coming to The Lowry

Tickets go on sale today for the world premiere of Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby.

Written and adapted for the stage by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is a dance theatre show featuring the 20 permanent Rambert dance company on stage, and a live band playing specially commissioned music. 

This first of its kind production will open on 27th September 2022 at the Birmingham Hippodrome, and will visit co-producing venue The Lowry from 14th – 18th March 2023.

Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is Rambert’s first collaboration of this kind and through dance theatre picks up the story of the Peaky Blinders at the end of World War One, following Tommy Shelby and Grace Burgess through their passionate love affair.

While Tommy is building his empire, Grace is operating as an undercover agent for Special Branch on a mission to get close to the heart of Tommy’s gang.

As the story unfolds, many hearts are broken.

Tommy and the Peaky Blinders fought together at Flanders and the show opens in the trenches.

Bound by this experience, a very personal story unfolds as the Shelby family navigate the decisions that determine their fate and Tommy is intoxicated by the mysterious Grace.

Expect a dazzling, athletic dance and stunning dramatisation with an eclectic Peaky soundtrack from a live on-stage band.

“Peaky Blinders has always had music and movement at its heart and now the beating heart of the show will be transferred to the stage, an interpretation of Tommy’s story performed by Rambert, one of the leading dance companies in the world,” said Steven Knight.

“This is dance for people who don’t usually watch dance and what I’ve written has been transformed into something startling by consummate dancers and choreographers.

“If the concept of a Peaky Blinders dance seems strange, reserve judgement and reserve a ticket.”

The show is directed and choreographed by Rambert’s artistic director Benoit Swan Pouffer, who said: “Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is something on a scale we’ve never done before, and I couldn’t be more ready for the challenge – it’s such an exciting opportunity as a choreographer to tell these stories and recreate these characters through dance.

“It is also a great collaborative opportunity to have been working closely with Steven Knight on this original production.

“What you’re going to get as a result will be an inspiring and uplifting dance show, but so much more than a dance show.

“There is of course a strong narrative, that of Tommy and the Peaky Blinders, so it is dance, and it is also theatre.

“And with such iconic music from a live-onstage band, it is more again.

“I can’t wait to bring these hugely popular characters to the stage.”

Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby will come to The Lowry from 14th – 18th March 2023. Tickets are on sale now from peakyblindersdance.com.