Dance
Both the team at Mayflower and myself at Sadler’s Wells are committed to presenting a broad range of dance across regional venues. Our very own Quadrophenia, A Mod Ballet will be holding some of our first performances at Mayflower Theatre in June. This brand-new production is one that we are so excited to tour. Expect the iconic rock album brought to a whole new dimension through the power of dance.
To programme and support incredible dance companies is so important. You will be excited by the return of Matthew Bourne’s company New Adventures, who will bring their fantastic breadth of work including Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes in March 2026. New Adventures are an Associate company of both Mayflower and Sadler’s Wells.
You also have the chance to experience the exciting collaboration with New Adventures, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Mayflower this summer on the Jane Austen 250 project, The Last Rose of Summer, which will see over 50 young people perform at the Studios in a brand-new dance musical, celebrating Austen’s time in Southampton.
You won’t want to miss the brightest stars of Southampton working with two of the best dance companies in the UK.
It is so inspiring to see the continued depth of an excellent dance programme at Mayflower, I encourage you to book early. I look forward to joining you in June!
Suzanne Walker, Executive Producer at Sadler’s Wells
Risk free
The RISK FREE symbol on selected productions is our guarantee that you will enjoy them. If you don’t like the performance, we will give you a credit against another show.
You must notify the House Manager on the evening of the show to be eligible.
Acosta Danza
Cuban Eclectico
9 & 10 May 2025 | Mayflower Theatre
A group of talented, versatile Cuban dancers showcase works ranging from modern to Afro-Cuban dance.
With dancers from both classical and modern dance backgrounds, Acosta mixes these techniques with flamenco, capoeira and hip-hop. The result is Acosta’s own identity in which the rich Cuban culture clearly emerges. Carlos Acosta collaborated with choreographers from around the world who created pieces inspired by Cuban culture, but with their own ‘twist’.
Rambert dance in
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby
20 – 24 May 2025 | Mayflower Theatre
Spectacular dramatisation and breathtaking dance is heightened by a live on-stage band performing specially commissioned music and iconic Peaky tracks. With direction and choreography by Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer.
‘Thrillingly visceral, darkly beautiful, and deeply moving’ Sunday Express
K2CO
A Thing of Beauty
23 & 24 May 2025 | Mayflower Studios
Award-winning choreographer Rosie Kay’s new company, K2CO present a feast of dance, full of honesty, beauty and joy.
Fantasia is inspired by the relationship between music and dance. A tour-de-force danced by three exquisite female dancers, with music by Vivaldi, Beethoven and Bach.
Adult Female Dancer is Kay’s first and only autobiographical solo work, danced by Kay herself. Moving, honest and ultimately fully life-affirming.
Dance Consortium presents
Cirque Éloize: iD Reloaded
23 & 24 September 2025 | Mayflower Theatre
iD Reloaded is an intoxicating blend of circus arts and urban dance music; b-boying/b-girling, breakdance, hip hop and more.
The stage fizzes and thrills with infectious energy and phenomenal physical feat, as the 12 talented cast members from Canada’s famed contemporary circus crew Cirque Éloize perform against a kaleidoscope of eye-popping video projections.
Set to a pulsating and stimulating soundtrack by Jean-Phi Concalves (Beast) and Alex McMahon, directed and created by Jeannot Painchaud, iD Reloaded is a thrilling piece of work, full of attitude, energy and invention.
Spotlight on:
Mayflower has been a proud member of Dance Consortium since 2012. Dance Consortium exists to tour the best international contemporary dance from across the world to local audiences across the UK and Ireland.
The Consortium is currently made up of 22 member theatres from all regions of the country as well as the Republic of Ireland, and is proud to be included in the National Portfolio of arts organisation funded by Arts Council England.
Members look for the highest quality of performance and a diversity of styles and cultural influences that are different from those normally seen on our UK stages. They consider which companies are likely to be most entertaining for audiences and which will appeal to the broadest possible audience. Since 2000 Dance Consortium has organised 54 tours by 30 different companies.
The Consortium has a far-reaching Learning and Engagement Programme and works with member venues to engage local and community groups through ‘wrap around’ activity such as question and answer sessions with the artists and participatory workshops. It supports talent development amongst UK dance artists through a programme of live and online masterclasses and workshops and provide career development opportunities through its Future Leaders programme and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
This season Dance Consortium are bringing Cirque Éloize’s brilliant and energetic show iD Reloaded.
The Last Rose of Summer
8 & 9 August 2025 | Mayflower Studios
A new one-act musical inspired by Jane Austen’s life and her connection to Southampton.
This exciting contemporary musical is a fresh look at one of the UK’s greatest writers. An all-female creative team will bring this fantastic new piece to life including choreography from prestigious dance companies Birmingham Royal Ballet and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures.
Featuring a cast of 50 talented local young people this production is one not to be missed.
We welcome back
Riverdance: The New Generation
25 – 28 September 2025 | Mayflower Theatre
Celebrating 30 incredible years, Riverdance returns to Southampton with its powerful fusion of Irish and international dance and music, now featuring ‘The New Generation’ of performers—none of whom were born when this global phenomenon first captivated the world.
English National Ballet
The Sleeping Beauty
26 – 29 November 2025 | Mayflower Theatre
Experience wonder and enchantment with Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s exquisite production of this classic fairytale ballet, featuring stunning choreography, sumptuous sets and costumes, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score performed live by the English National Ballet Philharmonic.
Matthew Bourne’s
The Red Shoes
10 – 14 March 2026 | Mayflower Theatre
A spellbinding adaptation of the Academy Award-winning film about obsession, passion, and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Set to Bernard Herrmann’s golden-age Hollywood score, this visually stunning masterpiece features sumptuous designs.
Birmingham Royal Ballet
Don Quixote
15 – 18 April 2026 | Mayflower Theatre
Birmingham Royal Ballet returns with the first revival of Carlos Acosta’s joyful production of Don Quixote, a vibrant take on Cervantes’ classic, bursting with spectacular dance, vivacious comedy, and romance—perfect for fans of Cinderella, Swan Lake, and The Sleeping Beauty.
Dance Along the South Coast
Working together to showcase world class performances, Dance Along The South Coast brings together Mayflower Theatre, Mayflower Studios, Pavilion Dance South West, Bournemouth, and Lighthouse Poole to bring you a feast of dance experiences this coming season.
In joining together, we want to ensure that audiences in the South have the very best opportunity to see great dance work in our fantastic venues and we hope you will both support your local venue, but also make a trip and experience one of our partner venues.
BRB2: Carlos Acosta’s Diaghilev Gala
13 & 14 May 2025 | Lighthouse Poole
Described as ‘pinsharp – personality laden’ by The Daily Telegraph, BRB2 brings together some of the world’s very best young dancers, to share their incredible talent.
Kontemporary Korean Double Bill
7 May 2025 | Pavillion Dance South West
The Korean Dance Festival is back with a stunning double bill of contemporary Korean dance talent featuring Melancholy Dance and Choi X Kang.