Ballet Shoes
By Noel Streatfeild
In a new version by Kendall Feaver
The bestselling book revitalised for the stage
In a crumbling house full of dinosaur bones and fossils, three adopted sisters – Pauline, Petrova and Posy – are learning who they are and what they want to be.
Under the watchful eyes and guidance of their guardian Sylvia, Nana, and some unlikely lodgers, they fight to pursue their individual passions. But in a world that wasn’t built for women with big ambitions, can they forge a future, keep their family together, and even learn a dance or two along the way?
Katy Rudd (The Ocean at the End of the Lane) returns to the National Theatre to direct this spectacular re-imagining of Noel Streatfeild’s beloved novel, in a new version by Kendall Feaver (The Almighty Sometimes).
A playful, graceful adaptation – and a palpable hit
★★★★★
Telegraph
This superlative adaptation never puts a foot wrong
★★★★★
Evening Standard
If you see one show this Christmas season, make it the effusive, lovable Ballet Shoes
★★★★★
Independent
A perfect joy
★★★★★
The i
Springs from page to stage with panache
★★★★★
WhatsOnStage
This snappy family show is the National at its best
★★★★
Times
The beloved book is brought beautifully to life in this charming adaptation
★★★★
Broadway World
A heartwarming and inspiring production
★★★★
London Theatre
Suitability
Please note: This production contains themes of adoption and death. Suitable for ages 7+
Supporters
This production is supported by Rosetrees Trust. This is an Edgerton New Plays Commission. New Play Commissions are also supported by the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation
Video
Gallery
Production images
Rehearsal images
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Cast
Stacy Abalogun
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Eryck Brahmania
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Cordelia Braithwaite
Young Juliette Manoff / Ballerina / Ensemble / Understudy Winifred and Katerina Federovsky
Cordelia Braithwaite
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Luke Cinque-White
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Michelle Cornelius
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Sonya Cullingford
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes and Hex (2021)
Yanexi Enriquez
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Jenny Galloway
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, The Welkin, Absolute Hell and After the Dance
Courtney George
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Georges Hann
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Nadine Higgin
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes and The Crucible (in the West End)
Nuwan Hugh Perera
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Philip Labey
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Katie Lee
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Helena Lymbery
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear, We Want You to Watch (for RashDash), Treasure Island, This House (original cast), The Cat in the Hat, some trace of her, Women of Troy, Attempts on Her Life, Iphigenia at Aulis and His Dark Materials
Sharol Mackenzie
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Pearl Mackie
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes and Grenfell: in the words of survivors
Xolisweh Ana Richards
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Sid Sagar
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes and The Father and the Assassin
Grace Saif
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes and Saint George and the Dragon
Justin Salinger
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Beauty and the Beast, The Cat in the Hat, Our Class, Iphigenia at Aulis, A Dream Play, Pillars of the Community, The Seagull, Peter Pan and Dealer’s Choice
Daisy Sequerra
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Katie Singh
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes
Artistic team
Writer
Playwright
Director
Katy Rudd
Katy Rudd
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes and The Ocean at the End of the Lane (also in the West End and on tour)
Set Designer
Frankie Bradshaw
Frankie Bradshaw
For the National Theatre: Alterations (upcoming), Ballet Shoes, Dear Octopus, Blues for an Alabama Sky and Hamlet for young audiences (on UK schools tour)
Costume Designer
Samuel Wyer
Samuel Wyer
For the National Theatre: as costume designer, Ballet Shoes; and as costume and puppet designer, The Ocean at the End of the Lane (also in the West End and on tour) and The Elephantom
Choreographer
Ellen Kane
Ellen Kane
For the National Theatre: as choreographer, Ballet Shoes and Dear England (also at Prince Edward)
Composer
Dance Arrangements and Orchestration
Lighting Designer
Paule Constable
Paule Constable
Recently for the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The Confessions, Dixon and Daughters, The Normal Heart, The Visit, or The Old Lady Comes to Call and The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Sound Designer
Ian Dickinson for Autograph
Ian Dickinson for Autograph
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, The Witches, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Translations, Small Island, Angels in America (also Broadway), Evening at the Talk House, The Red Lion, Rules for Living, A Taste of Honey, Emil and the Detectives, This House (also Chichester and Garrick) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Video Designer
Ash J Woodward
Ash J Woodward
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, Coriolanus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, Dear England and Hex
Illusions
Chris Fisher
Chris Fisher
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, The Witches, Peter Gynt, Julie, Angels in America (also Broadway), Here We Go, Pinocchio and Treasure Island
Casting Director
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, Coriolanus, London Tide, Dear Octopus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, The Odyssey, Dear England (also in the West End), Dixon and Daughters, Romeo and Julie, Much Ado About Nothing, Trouble in Mind, Hex, After Life, Dick Whittington, The Visit, My Brilliant Friend and Peter Gynt
Classical Coach
Dialect Coach
Penny Dyer
Penny Dyer
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, The Corn is Green, The Normal Heart, Follies, The Red Barn and This House
Voice Coach
Cathleen McCarron
Cathleen McCarron
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company, Coriolanus, Mnemonic (2024, a co-production with Complicité), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Confessions, Dear England, The Motive and the Cue, Death of England: Closing Time and Romeo and Julie
Voice Coach
Tamsin Newlands
Tamsin Newlands
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, A Tupperware of Ashes, The Hot Wing King, Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, Jekyll & Hyde and The House of Bernarda Alba
Associate Set Designer
Natalie Johnson
Natalie Johnson
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes and Alterations (upcoming)
Associate Choreographer
Jonathan Goddard
Jonathan Goddard
For the National Theatre: as associate choreographer, Ballet Shoes; and as movement director, Antony and Cleopatra, Strange Interlude, Man and Superman, Beaux Stratagem, As You Like It and Sunset at the Villa Thalia
Swing Consultant
Fight Director
Haruka Kuroda
Haruka Kuroda
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes and Underdog: The Other Other Brontë (also Northern Stage)
Staff Director
Aaliyah Mckay
Aaliyah Mckay
For the National Theatre: as staff director, Ballet Shoes; and as assistant/associate director, Grenfell: in the words of survivors
Ticket prices
Monday – Saturday evenings and matinees:
£25, £39, £59, £79, £99
For concessions and discounts, see Ways to save
Please note the 6.30pm start time on the following Tuesday performances: 10 Dec, 17 Dec, 7 Jan, 14 Jan, 21 Jan and 28 Jan.
Visit our Ticketing FAQs for information on how to book, ticket exchanges and more.
Prices may change according to demand
Assisted performances
Captioned
BSL Interpreted
Audio described
No Chilled performance available.
No Dementia-friendly performances available.
Relaxed performance
The interpreter for the BSL performance is Rebekah Spencer.
Audio-described performances are preceded by a Touch Tour, 90 minutes before the performance start time. Call the Access line on 020 7452 3961 to book Touch Tours.
The Audio describers will be Eleanor Stollery, supported by Ess Grange and Andrew Holland.
We have an allocation of tickets held for members of our Access scheme and if any of the assisted performances above are shown as “Sold Out”, tickets may still be available: Please log in to your account to view all available tickets, or call Box Office on 020 7452 3961
Smart caption glasses
Will not be available for performances of Ballet Shoes.
Shop
Visit our Shop website for a wide range of playtexts, gifts and prints of past production posters.
Photography (Yanexi Enriquez, Grace Saif and Daisy Sequerra) by Rachel Louise Brown. CGI title by Real Life Living Things. Art direction and design by Louise Richardson and National Theatre Graphic Design Studio.