Musical chairs for QB with a 2025 program balancing risk against proven winners
Queensland Ballet has navigated some choppy waters in recent months but with great dancers, an exciting program and a new artistic director, 2025 is looking good.
Queensland Ballet is starting 2025 with excitement – and relief. The recent announcement of charismatic and internationally respected European artist Ivan Gil-Ortega as the company’s new artistic director allows QB to begin its 65th year afresh and with renewed optimism. This is after spending 2024’s final five months with the position vacant.
In response to that uncertainty, acting artistic director Greg Horsman (who will resume his role as assistant AD when Gil-Ortega takes up the reins mid-month) assembled a program that balances risk against proven winners.
Season 2025 begins March 21-29 at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre with the sure footing of Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo & Juliet, which remains one of QB’s finest and most successful productions. When last presented in 2019, opting for the veritas of youth over seniority in opening night casting paid off richly. The pairing of then-company artist Patricio Revé and soloist Mia Heathcote augured a shared destiny as principals. Six years on, Revé will reprise Romeo and sparks are expected with senior soloist Chiara Gonzalez, based on their chemistry in last year’s Coppélia.
Honouring the 60th anniversary of the blockbuster’s creation for the Royal Ballet, two of its principal artists will guest star in our state company’s exclusive Australian staging. Calvin Richardson’s two performances with Akane Takada on March 26 and 28 will be the Victorian’s first on home soil since achieving the top rank.
The character roles of Juliet’s Nurse, Friar Tuck and Lord and Lady Capulet will boast further international credentials through the illustrious presence of guest artists Lisa Pavane, Janette Mulligan, Matthew Lawrence and Christian Tátchev (alongside recently retired QB first company artist David Power, who has joined the artistic staff).
Movement in the principal ranks saw Joel Woellner exit for Ballet Zurich in August. While Lucy Green is on maternity leave (as is soloist Lina Kim), Yanela Piñera has returned from hers. Replacing Woellner might be Gil-Ortega’s first artistic appointment.
There’s already a lot of excitement around Prix de Lausanne finalist Ruby Day who, off the back of that success, joined QB last November before completing Queensland Ballet Academy’s pre-professional year.
Liam Scarlett’s boldly decadent Dangerous Liaisons returns
Another highlight will be the welcome return of the late Liam Scarlett’s boldly decadent Dangerous Liaisons, created on QB while the choreographer was its artistic associate. It hasn’t been seen since its wildly acclaimed 2019 world premiere, in the wake of misconduct allegations abroad and the 35-year-old’s subsequent tragic death. The lavish production’s provocative themes presented the company and its artists in a revelatory light. Its transfer from QPAC’s Playhouse to the intimacy of the Talbot Theatre (October 2-18) is sure to intensify the experience for both audiences and artists.
Remounting these two 2019 triumphs creates a safety net for two contemporary seasons presenting four new works.
Triple Bill (Playhouse, June 27-July 5) offers audiences the comfort of familiar pieces and styles alongside a commissioned world premiere. Greg Horsman’s A Rhapsody in Motion and QB resident choreographer Natalie Weir’s 4Seasons are acclaimed pieces featuring beautiful evocative movement set to sublime music (which will be played live by Camerata). Creating for both Queensland Ballet and Weir’s alma mater Australasian Dance Collective, Jack Lister is an imaginative artist who draws on a myriad of influences and styles. For this as yet untitled new creation he’s reteaming with composer Louis Frere-Harvey and lighting designer Alexander Berlage.
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Bespoke is the company’s most adventurous and diverse season of commissioned works, this year’s line-up presenting a trio of contemporary dance world premieres that will stretch QB’s artists in different directions. The program (Talbot Theatre July 31-August 9) includes two artists well-known to Queensland audiences – former QB company soloist Amelia Waller and long-time Bangarra Dance Theatre member and choreographer Yolande Brown, who also choreographed The Sunshine Club in 2022 for Queensland Theatre. Canadian Robert Binet will draw on a portfolio of global choreographic experience ranging from esteemed companies including New York City Ballet to music videos for his contribution.
After 12 ever-popular seasons bringing winter to Christmas in Brisbane, QB has announced that the 13th year of The Nutcracker in the Lyric Theatre, December 5-13, will be its last. There’s more in store for families before year-end, though, with The Little Mermaid – part of the My First Ballet series choreographed by company veteran Paul Boyd in 2023, with narration by Sarah McIntosh – showing at the Talbot, December 18-23.
Regional audiences are in for a treat with Greg Horsman’s winning adaptation of Coppélia travelling to Toowoomba (Empire Theatre, April 26) then Cairns Performing Arts Centre, May 1-2.