RAMBERT DANCE IN PEAKY BLINDERS - THE REDEMPTION OF THOMAS SHELBY, RETURNS TO THE LOWRY IN 2024

In the week that marks 10 years since the first episode of Peaky Blinders aired on the BBC, The Lowry, Salford announces the return of Rambert’s hit dance production Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby next year.

The show will return to The Lowry from Tuesday 22nd to Saturday 26th October 2024.

In addition, going from stage to screen, Rambert will also unveil a new dance theatre film Peaky Blinders: Rambert Dance which will be aired on the BBC later in the year, following a limited cinema release.

Created by writer Steven Knight, Peaky Blinders has become a household name across the world.

Inspired by the TV series produced and owned by Caryn Mandabach Productions, the explosive and exhilarating performance has been adapted for the stage by Steven Knight and choreographed and directed by Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer.

Featuring the full Rambert dance company and an iconic Peaky soundtrack from a live on-stage band, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby showcases exhilarating and athletic dance combined with electrifying music.

It tells the story of love and loss at the end of World War One through the lens of the Peaky Blinders and main protagonists Tommy Shelby and Grace Burgess.

Having included exclusive plot and characters never seen on screen, Steven Knight opens the story in the trenches of The Somme in 1916 to tell a personal story of post-war industrial Birmingham, where the Shelby family navigate the decisions that determine their fate and Tommy is intoxicated by mysterious newcomer, Grace. 

While Tommy is building his empire, Grace is operating as an undercover agent for Special Branch on a mission to get close to the heart of Tommy’s gang. As the story unfolds, hearts are broken and revenge is sought, in a script that is spoken by Birmingham-born writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah who played street preacher Jeremiah Jesus in the TV series.

Fans of Peaky Blinders may have spotted guest appearances of Rambert in Episode 4 of Season 5, when Tommy Shelby invites the dance company to perform at his wife’s birthday party.

The collaboration between Peaky Blinders and Rambert becomes full circle as the stage adaptation pivots to the screen later in the year on the BBC, following a limited cinema release.

Rambert in Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is presented in association with BBC and will be broadcast on BBC 4 later this year.

Inspired by the television series Peaky Blinders created by Steven Knight and produced by Caryn Mandabach Productions, it is supported by The Space, Arts Council England and Birmingham Hippodrome, with thanks to The Lowry.

Co-produced by North South, the Executive Producers on the screen adaptation are Helen Shute, Steven Knight, Caryn Mandabach, Emma Cahusac and Fiona Morris.

Having written and adapted the production for Rambert, Peaky Blinders writer and creator Steven Knight said: “I’m absolutely thrilled the Peaky/Rambert collaboration has been such a resounding success. So many people came to see the show and so many of them were new to live dance, which is why we all wanted to do this.

“By popular demand the show is back on the road in the UK in places the first tour didn’t reach. Next, it’s Europe, then the world.

“Now that our friends at the BBC and North South have captured the performance with such creativity and panache, we hope that more people will enjoy this phenomenal new template

in how TV becomes stage then stage becomes TV again.’

Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer, who choreographed and directed the production said: “As a company, we are so proud of the success of Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby and are excited to see its return.

“Having had the opportunity of presenting this work to audiences across the UK, I’m excited for even more people to see it on stage and screen.“As a choreographer, I love that I get to tell these stories through movement, and recreate these iconic characters through dance, in collaboration with a talented creative team that includes Steven Knight.

“Rambert is one of the world’s most diverse companies of dancers, and I’m proud that we present adventurous, dynamic and daring work that inspires audiences, locally, nationally and internationally.”