Supported by Tony Iommi, Birmingham Royal Ballet director Carlos Acosta has announced Black Sabbath – The Ballet, a full-length three-act ballet showcasing eight early Black Sabbath tracks. The ballet will premiere in September at Birmingham Hippodrome before moving to Plymouth and London.
“I’d never imagined pairing Black Sabbath with ballet,” Iommi said, “but it’s got a nice ring to it. I’m looking forward to seeing how this all develops. Black Sabbath have always been innovators and never been predictable, and it doesn’t come any more unpredictable than this. I’ve met with Carlos several times, and his enthusiasm is infectious.”
The ballet will run at Birmingham Hippodrome from 23 to 30 September 2023 before moving to Plymouth’s Theatre Royal and Sadler’s Wells in London.
“Black Sabbath is probably Birmingham’s biggest export,” Carlos Acosta said. “The most famous – and infamous – cultural entity to ever emerge from the city. So I was naturally drawn to the idea of a collaboration between what most people might think are the most unlikely of partners.
“The band’s enthusiasm for the project is a huge endorsement. They are putting their trust in us to deliver something completely new and original, and that’s quite a responsibility but one that we are beyond excited to take on.”
