First look at Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet

Sadler’s Wells, Extended Play and Universal Music UK have shared a first look into rehearsals for the brand-new dance production Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet.  

Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet will tour to Plymouth Theatre Royal (28 May – 1 June 2025), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (10 – 14 June 2025) and the Mayflower, Southampton (18 – 21 June 2025) before having its official opening at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London (24 June – 13 July 2025) and then visiting The Lowry, Salford (15 – 19 July 2025).  The production is currently being created and rehearsed at Sadler’s Wells East, the new powerhouse of dance in the heart of East London.  

In 1973, guitar smashing rock genius Pete Townshend wrote Quadrophenia. Recorded by The Who – it quickly became an iconic and multi-million selling album. Quadrophenia defined a generation and in 1979 inspired the cult classic feature film of the same name.  

Now it’s back with a cast of exceptional dancers, introducing new audiences to troubled mod Jimmy’s story while remaining true in spirit to the much-loved original. Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet is steeped in the iconography of the 1960s – sharp suits, soul music, vespas and parkas but its themes of lost youth, rebellion, the search for belonging and hunger for social change are just as urgent today.  

For select performances during the London run of Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet, Royal Ballet Principal dancer Matthew Ball joins the company as a guest artist in the role of Godfather. Ball trained at The Royal Ballet School and joined The Royal Ballet during the 2013/14 Season, and was promoted to Principal dancer in 2018. Ball has performed leading roles across the Company’s classical and contemporary repertory and signature works by Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan. In 2016 he was named Best Emerging Artist at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. He performed The Swan/Stranger in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake. 

Alongside Matthew Ball, Zack Guest and Jack Widdowson are also announced as new members of the cast. They join the company of Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet as Swings.  

Rising star Paris Fitzpatrick will perform the iconic lead role of Jimmy. Paris completed his professional dance training at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. Following graduation in 2015, he spent a year dancing and touring with Northern Ballet before going on to join New Adventures in 2017. During his time with New Adventures, Paris’ work includes originating the role of Romeo in Matthew Bourne’s Romeo + Juliet (UK Tour, 2019), creating the role of Bob in The Midnight Bell (UK Tour, 2021), Angelo in The Car Man (Royal Albert Hall 2022), Carabosse/Caradoc and Count Lilac in Sleeping Beauty (UK and International Tour 2022/23), and most recently reprising the role of Romeo in Romeo + Juliet (UK and International Tour 2023/24). Paris toured with BalletBoyz in 2022. He was nominated for The Times Breakthrough Award at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards in 2020, for Outstanding Male Modern Performance at the National Dance Awards 2022, and for Best Male Dancer and again for Outstanding Male Modern Performance which he then went on to win at the National Dance Awards 2024.  

The cast of Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet, in alphabetical order, Curtis Angus, Dan Baines, Jonathon Luke Baker, Will Bozier, Anya Ferdinand, Paris Fitzpatrick, Euan Garrett, Seirian Griffiths, Zack Guest, Georges Hann, Dylan Jones, Serena McCall, Stuart Neal, Joshua Nkemdilim, Zach Parkin, Amaris Pearl-Gillies, Yasset Roldan, Pam Pam Sapchartanan, Kate Tydman, Jack Widdowson and Taela Yeomans-Brown. 

Visit https://modballet.com/ to book now.

Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet rehearsals, Photo credit Richard Lakos