Message In A Bottle by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Kate Prince, featuring the music of Grammy Award-winning artist Sting, is set to make its Australian debut at the Sydney Opera House.
The highly acclaimed dance theatre production will be part of the iconic venue’s 50th Birthday Festival and will run from 25th to 29th October in the Joan Sutherland Theatre. This marks the first time that Message In A Bottle will be performed in Australia.
Currently on a UK and international tour, the production will be making stops at The Marlowe in Canterbury from 4th to 8th July and The Lowry in Salford from 27th to 29th July. Prior to its arrival in Sydney, the show will return to Sadler’s Wells’ Peacock Theatre in the West End for a two-week run from 4th to 14th October. Following the Sydney performance, the production will continue its tour to venues in The Netherlands and Luxembourg.
The Sydney Opera House has a longstanding relationship with Sadler’s Wells, having previously presented several acclaimed productions from the London-based dance company. These include Push by Russell Maliphant and Sylvie Guillem, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s Sutra and m¡longa, Nilda Guerra’s Havana Rakatan, Sylvie Guillem’s 6000 Miles Away and Life in Progress, Michael Keegan-Dolan’s Swan Lake/Loch na hEala, and Natalia Osipova’s Pure Dance.
Message In A Bottle premiered at Sadler’s Wells’ West End venue, the Peacock Theatre, in February 2020. Combining highly original dance with captivating music, the production tells an uplifting story of humanity, hope, and love, while exploring themes of loss, fear, and survival through the journey of a displaced family.
The show features a range of popular songs by Sting, including “Every Breath You Take,” “Roxanne,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” and “Fields of Gold,” presented in new arrangements by Alex Lacamoire. These recordings, featuring Sting and guest artists such as Olivier Award-winner Beverley Knight, add depth and emotion to the performances. The extraordinary talents of dance storytelling powerhouse ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company are showcased in the production.
Message In A Bottle is a co-production between Sadler’s Wells and Universal Music UK, in association with Birmingham Hippodrome and The Lowry in Salford.
Exciting news awaits fans of Message In A Bottle beyond the stage. In May 2024, a made-for-film adaptation of the production will be released in UK cinemas. The film is a collaboration with the Royal Opera House and will also be broadcast in the US as part of the PBS Great Performances season, further expanding the reach of this remarkable dance theatre experience.
Suzanne Walker, Sadler’s Wells Executive Producer, expressed her delight at bringing Message In A Bottle to Australia for the first time and continuing the strong relationship with the Sydney Opera House. She highlighted the show’s universal themes, which resonate with audiences worldwide, and eagerly anticipated sharing the spectacular production with new audiences in Sydney.
Kate Prince, Director and Choreographer of Message In A Bottle, expressed her excitement about touring the production to the Sydney Opera House and the significance of this milestone for the company. Prince, a lifelong fan of Sting’s music, spoke of her dream to choreograph a dance show to his iconic songs. Collaborating with Sting and other incredible creatives, she expressed her gratitude for the journey and eagerly anticipated sharing the production with the people of Sydney.
Ebony Bott, Head of Contemporary Performance at the Sydney Opera House, expressed her enthusiasm for presenting the Australian premiere of Message In A Bottle. She noted the production’s special place as a centerpiece in their upcoming 50th Birthday Festival.
Book tickets to Message In A Bottle at the Peacock Theatre London
