Performer: Tobias Batley

Northern Ballet reaches its half-century with a gala at Leeds Grand Theatre featuring highlights from its "greatest hits".

Jonathan Watkins' stage adaptation of George Orwell's 1984 is an entertaining and excellent work, presented by Northern Ballet at Leeds' West Yorkshire Playhouse. 

Inspired by Dickens’ novel of the same title, Northern Ballet’s piece really captures the essence of Dickensian London at Christmas time. Dickens’ famous renderings of the festive season made much of his work almost synonymous with Christmas. Dickens’ most popular novel, A Christmas Carol redefined the spirit of Christmas as an enduring sense of community and sharing.

The lady at the bus stop announced that she had just been to the ballet, and commented: “I didn’t really understand it but I loved it”. The ballet was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed by Northern Ballet, and yes, it was somewhat confusing, though highly enjoyable and very funny.