ISSUE 220 March 2026

 Northern Ballet, at Grand Theatre Leeds, 7th March 2026.

Review by Andrew Sugden.

On the eve of international women's day, a fabulous ballet presentation of an iconic Yorkshire Woman... 

 Sassy, confident, determined, humorous, fiery… vulnerable.

 Gemma Coutts as Anne Lister, brings Gentleman Jack to life through beautiful choreography but also Gemma's own intricate body language and facial expressions. She paints a portrait of an indomitable woman, carving her way into a world that attempts to reject her. Looking from the outside… demanding to be let in. 

And the Grand Theatre audience loved her… drawn in; laughter, gasps and applause burst out as the scenes of her life unfolded. 

Cleverly conveyed by simple theatre backdrops, bookcases that turned into moving pictures of sky, clouds and trees, towns and places, evocative movement as Anne walked proud, free, unwavering and relentlessly into each new adventure. 

Simple theatre props: tables, chairs, cabinets and cupboards, interpretively spun around to evoke each new scene. 

Music from an orchestra hidden below the stage, with the conductor Daniel Parkinson’s head just visible as he guided, synchronising the music’s mood to match the actions on stage. Composer Peter Salem’s music beautifully complements and sublimely evokes the actions unfolding. All portrayed wonderfully through dance and expression, to bring the story to life. 

And the cast are fabulous, each portraying their characters and adding depth to the story. 

Saeka Shirai as Marianna, Anne’s first love who rejects her, and marries the jealous Charles Lawton played by Jackson Dwyer, and Rachael Gillespie as Ann Walker, Gentleman Jacks true love. 

Marianna and Ann Walker are her love and passions. Love found and lost and found again, the woman in her life. Beautifully choreographed, personal, intimate, erotic. 

George Liang as the arrogant Christopher Walker who cannot believe anyone, in business or in life, especially a woman, can best him. But Anne does in the many battles choreographed between them… to the delight and gasps of the Leeds Grand audience.  

Anne’s Aunt, Uncle and Sister, who give Anne a safe and loving space to exist in, played respectively by Heather Lehan, Albert González Orts, and Harriet Marden. 

And of course, the Chorus of words. Moments of thoughtfulness and reflection, caught in dance, the coded words of Anne’s diaries dance around her in her private moments of contemplation. 

A portrait of an indomitable woman, determined to be herself. And that is how the ballet ends. 

Followed by an eruption of joyous applause from the packed Leeds Grand audience, and a standing ovation, cheering and clapping that seemed like it would never end. 

The full cast and supporting team came on stage to bow, and flowers were given to members of the cast. 

As Jemma Coutts took her flowers, she let her veil of Anne slip and smiled… letting her own personality shine.

 A fabulous ballet… If you’ve never been to a ballet before, this is the one to start with. Highly recommended.