Northern Ballet’s Gentleman Jack: brave but bland at Sadler’s Wells

Gemma Coutts in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Gentleman Jack

Gemma Coutts and Saeka Shirai in Gentleman Jack

Northern Ballet in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Gentleman Jack

Gemma Coutts and Rachael Gillespie in Gentleman Jack

By Jonathan Gray, 20 May 2026

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“the ballet, performed with conviction by the entire cast, is brave and ambitious”

Reviewed at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London on 19 May 2026

Gentleman Jack (Annabelle Lopez Ochoa)

Northern Ballet

Christopher Ash, Set Designer, Lighting Designer

Louise Flanagan, Costume Designer

Northern Ballet Sinfonia

Gemma Coutts, Dancer

Saeka Shirai, Dancer

Rachael Gillespie, Dancer

Exciting talents and mixed choreography in Paris Opera Junior Ballet

Vikki Jane Vile, 29th January

Established in 2024, Paris Opera Junior Ballet has been touring extensively since early 2025, with Bonn’s Opera House the latest stop.

***11

Paris Opera Junior Ballet: a plethora of emerging talent

Deborah Weiss, 19th June

A very welcome visit from the Paris Opera Junior Ballet to the Linbury Theatre displays the company in a very favourable light, in a variety of works.

****1

Queensland Ballet: Behind the ‘rags to riches’ story of Coco Chanel

Ruth Ridgway, 4th October

Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon is a visually beautiful work about an unscrupulous character and a great addition to Queensland Ballet's repertoire.

****1

BAAND Together Dance Festival: five major companies go toe-to-toe

Carla Escoda, 30th July

Five of the best-known dance companies based in New York City have united for a weeklong program every summer since COVID. This year they shared a stage but stuck to their own rep.

****1

Scottish Ballet's A Streetcar Named Desire: sensual but tragic

Deborah Weiss, 16th May

Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's A Streetcar Named Desire for Scottish Ballet fires on all cylinders. Compelling drama and outstanding dancing make this a must-see.

*****

Broken Wings soars in SF Ballet’s Dos Mujeres

Terez Rose, 6th April

Annabel Lopez Ochoa's Broken Wings is a ballet you’ll want to see again and again, one that illuminates, empowers and soars.

****1

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Jonathan Gray

Jonathan Gray was born in Wales and studied at The Royal Ballet School, Leicester Polytechnic and Wimbledon School of Art. He was a member of the curatorial department of The Theatre Museum, London, from 1989 until 2005, and was editor of Dancing Times from 2008 until its closure in 2022.