From March 2026, the world premiere of Northern Ballet’s new full-length ballet – Gentleman Jack – is set to captivate Yorkshire audiences as part of a nationwide tour, with performances in Leeds (7-14 March 2026), Sheffield (31 March – 4 April) and Bradford (3-5 September).

Continuing Northern Ballet’s masterful canon of creating stories that connect, this groundbreaking ballet will bring to the stage the life of the 19^th century icon, Anne Lister.

Yorkshirewoman Anne, described by some as the “first modern lesbian”, lived, dressed and loved as she desired, not as 19^th century society expected her to. Her diaries were discovered and decoded after her death, revealing a bold, passionate, independent, well-travelled businesswoman who defied societal norms and loved as fiercely as she lived. 

Her story has inspired biographies, novels and a hit TV series, and this – Northern Ballet’s first large-scale commission since 2021 and the first under Artistic Director Federico Bonelli – is the only production to bring it to life through the powerful medium of dance. 

Choreographed by the multi-award-winning Annabelle Lopez Ochoa with Dance Artist and singer/songwriter Jemima Brown (Choreography Consultant) as part of a majority female artistic team that also includes Sally Wainwright (series-writer of the BBC/HBO TV series Gentleman Jack), the ballet will be performed to new, live music composed by Peter Salem.

We spoke to three of the ballet’s leading stars: Gemma Coutts, who plays Anne Lister; Rachael Gillespie playing the part of Ann Walker; and Saeka Shirai as Marianna Lawton.

Tell us a bit about your dance journey, how long have you been dancing with Northern Ballet?

Gemma: I grew up in Thailand, where I attended my first ballet school. At the age of 16, I joined the English National Ballet School and graduated in 2021. After this, I joined Northern Ballet where I am now in my fifth season with the company.

Rachael: I have been dancing with Northern Ballet for 18 years. 

Saeka: I’m from Osaka, Japan and trained with the Yuki Ballet Studio and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. I danced with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet for four years and then with Poznan Opera Ballet for two. This is my fourth season with Northern Ballet.

Were you aware of Anne Lister/Gentleman Jack before being invited to create the ballet? What stuck you most about her story? 

Gemma: No, I was not aware of Anne Lister or her story prior to the ballet. Having learned more, Anne’s confidence and the social impact of her actions really stood out to me.

Rachael: Her strength, courage and intelligence really stood out for me. To step out of social expectations to be her true self is so brave and empowering. 

Saeka: I had some awareness of Anne Lister before working on the ballet, and what struck me most was her courage.

How have you found the process of working with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (choreographer) to create the ballet and originate this role? 

Gemma: I have really enjoyed working with Annabelle. She is a passionate woman who knows what she wants. This means that we work quickly and with purpose, which suits my style and has allowed us to really dive into the roles. 

Saeka: It’s been an inspiring and collaborative process. She knows very clearly what she wants, which I found very similar to Anne Lister herself. That clarity made the creative process focused and exciting, especially when originating a new role.

What are you most looking forward to about performing – do you have a favourite place to visit? 

Gemma: I am looking forward to performing in London as my family are coming to watch all the way from Indonesia. I always enjoy my time in London as I get to see many friends from my English National Ballet School days.

Saeka: Wherever we go, the audience is always so warm and welcoming. It really means everything to us. I hope the ballet brings them as much joy as they give us.

Are you excited to be premiering in Leeds, portraying a real person and story rooted here in Yorkshire? 

Rachael: It’s always so special for us to tour and share our stories across the UK. We have an incredible amount of loyalty from our audiences, old and new – so it’s so important to keep them involved with our performances.

Saeka: Yes, of course we are very excited!For ticket details, click your city: Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford.