Miki Mizutani as Kitri’s Friend, with Artists of Birmingham Royal Ballet in Don Quixote; photo: Johan Persson
Grace Hatchell here, popping by with a sun-soaked delivery from Birmingham Hippodrome, and honestly, this one’s got capes, kicks and a healthy dose of Spanish swagger tucked neatly into the satchel.
Following a rather triumphant autumn 2025 tour of Black Sabbath – The Ballet (42,000 people and counting, if you’re keeping score) and while audiences are still happily wrapped up in The Nutcracker, Birmingham Royal Ballet is already warming things up for Spring 2026. Carlos Acosta’s much-loved Don Quixote rides back into Birmingham Hippodrome from 12–21 February as part of a UK tour, and it’s bringing the sunshine with it.
I remember when this Don Quixote first premiered at the Hippodrome back in 2022. There was a real buzz in the air, the sort that says “this one’s going to stick around”. Audiences loved it, critics nodded approvingly, and now Carlos Acosta, BRB’s Director, is reviving the production for the very first time. Think bright, bold, joyful ballet that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but absolutely knows how to dazzle.
Grace confession time: if ballet ever needed an entry point for newcomers, this is it. Don Quixote is bursting with colour, humour and energy, and it’s one of those productions where you can almost feel the heat of the Spanish sun from your seat. It’s sunny, vivacious and visually gorgeous, and it works beautifully for all ages.
If you missed it first time round, you may well have caught it another way. The 2022 production was filmed for cinema and later broadcast on BBC TV, where it reached over 95,000 viewers. Not bad for a knight who’s famously a bit lost in his own imagination.
There’s also a treat for ballet fans who like to keep an eye on guest appearances. National Ballet of Canada Principal Dancers Siphesihle November and Genevieve Penn Nabity will be joining BRB at Birmingham Hippodrome for selected performances. Genevieve Penn Nabity will dance with Mathias Dingman on 12 February at 7.30pm and 14 February at 2pm, while Siphesihle November will dance with Momoko Hirata on 13 February at 7.30pm and 15 February at 1pm. Full Principal casting for performances through to 18 April is now available on the BRB website, for those who like to plan ahead.
At the heart of it all is Cervantes’ famous knight, Don Quixote himself, alongside lovers Kitri and Basilio and a wonderfully rich cast of supporting characters. As Don heads off in search of his true love, accompanied by his loyal (and long-suffering) servant Sancho Panza, he tumbles headfirst into a whirlwind of romance, mischief and dreamlike adventure. Grace’s verdict: it’s one of those stories that reminds you theatre doesn’t always have to be heavy to be meaningful.
Carlos Acosta has spoken about the joy of bringing the production back to UK audiences, describing it as the perfect way to kick-start springtime. With daring dancing, cape-twirling matadors, beautiful costumes and striking scenery, it’s very much a celebration piece. And, as he rightly points out, Birmingham Royal Ballet remains committed to bringing world-class ballet home, ensuring audiences across the Midlands can enjoy leading dance performed by some of the finest artists around.
Behind the scenes, there’s another important story that unfolded. In support of Don Quixote, BRB was selected to take part in this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025, the UK’s largest collaborative fundraising campaign. From 2–9 December, members of the public supported BRB by donating through the challenge
Rachael Magson has been clear about why this matters. Touring large-scale ballet with live music is something BRB is deeply committed to, but rising costs and falling public funding make it increasingly challenging. Donations raised through the Big Give will help ensure that world-class ballet and live music can continue to tour communities across England.
And because BRB never misses a chance to invite people properly into the world of dance, their much-loved Dance Workshops are also returning to Birmingham. These friendly, supportive sessions give children and adults the chance to learn dances inspired by Don Quixote, taught by former and current BRB professional dancers. They’re tailored to participants’ needs and experience levels, and Grace would like to officially note that they make a rather excellent gift for dancers of any age. Child and adult friendly ballet workshops | Birmingham Royal Ballet
All in all, this feels like one of those seasons where Birmingham Royal Ballet isn’t just performing, it’s throwing the doors wide open. Sun, spirit, swords and spins await, and Don Quixote is ready to dream his way back onto the Hippodrome stage.
For more information and tickets visit www.brb.org.uk
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