Northern Ballet Presents Gentleman Jack. The Extraordinary Story Of Anne Lister

From March 2026, the world premiere of Northern Ballet’s new full-length ballet – Gentleman Jack – is set to captivate Yorkshire audiences as part of a nationwide tour, with performances in Leeds (7-14 March 2026), Sheffield (31 March – 4 April) and Bradford (3-5 September).

Yorkshirewoman Anne Lister, described by some as the "first modern lesbian", lived, dressed and loved as she desired, not as 19th century society expected her to. Her diaries were discovered and decoded after her death, revealing a bold, passionate, independent, well-travelled businesswoman who defied societal norms and loved as fiercely as she lived.

Choreographed by the multi-award-winning Annabelle Lopez Ochoa with Dance Artist and singer/songwriter Jemima Brown (Choreography Consultant) as part of a majority female artistic team that also includes Sally Wainwright (series-writer of the BBC/HBO TV series Gentleman Jack), the ballet will be performed to new, live music composed by Peter Salem.

Northern Ballet’s Artistic Director, Federico Bonelli said: “Since we announced Gentleman Jack, we have been blown away by the intense anticipation shown for this new ballet. Creating something entirely new is always exhilarating and this time we have the added excitement of creating a portrait of a real person through the choreography and storytelling, it’s a real honour for the whole creative team.

“Annabelle has done an incredible job to really push the boundaries of classical ballet – to communicate the passion between Anne Lister and two of her great loves, Ann Walker and Mariana Lawton, through dance. It’s everything that Northern Ballet represents – a story rooted in the North, but which will resonate with audiences all over the country as both timeless and contemporary.

Interview with Gemma Coutts – playing Anne Lister

Tell us a bit about your dance journey, how long have you been dancing with Northern Ballet?

I grew up in Thailand, where I attended my first ballet school. At the age of 16, I joined the English National Ballet School and graduated in 2021. After this, I joined Northern Ballet where I am now in my fifth season with the company.

Were you aware of Anne Lister/Gentleman Jack before being invited to create the ballet? What stuck you most about her story?

No, I was not aware of Anne Lister or her story prior to the ballet. Having learned more, Anne’s confidence and the social impact of her actions really stood out to me.

How have you found the process of working with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (choreographer) to create the ballet and originate this role?

I have really enjoyed working with Annabelle. She is a passionate woman who knows what she wants. This means that we work quickly and with purpose, which suits my style and has allowed us to really dive into the roles.

The ballet features set and lighting design by Christopher Ash and costumes by Louise Flanagan, who has drawn on inspiration from the 1830s as well as lesbian and queer dress in modern fashion to create a contemporary feel to the period dress.

Gentleman Jack was awarded the FEDORA - VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Dance Prize 2025; the prize recognises productions that reimagine dance for the 21st century, rethinking how ballets are created and who they are created for.

At FEDORA, we are committed to supporting new creations that reimagine dance for today’s audiences. We are delighted to accompany Northern Ballet in the development Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's Gentleman Jack, an ambitious new work of great artistic vision. We look forward with excitement to its world premiere in Leeds.Director of FEDORA, Edilia Gänz

Alongside the creation of Gentleman Jack, Northern Ballet's Learning Team will launch a comprehensive schools education program, exploring themes of identity, allyship and compassion, drawing inspiration from Scottish Ballet's Safe to Be Me program. By supporting young people to challenge prejudice, celebrate diversity and express themselves, Northern Ballet hopes to make a lasting impact.

Gentleman Jack is a co-production of Northern Ballet and Finnish National Opera and Ballet.

Tickets are now on sale, visit northernballet.com/gentleman-jack to find out more and book. Each venue will offer an audio-described performance to improve accessibility for those with visual impairments.