Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre full casting announced including Pearl Mackie

The National Theatre has announced full casting for its new production of Ballet Shoes, the first major stage adaptation of Noel Streatfeild’s much-loved book.

Adapted by Kendall Feaver (The Almighty Sometimes), Ballet Shoes will play in the National’s Olivier theatre from 23 November 2024, directed by Katy Rudd (The Ocean at the End of the Lane).

New casting announced today includes Pearl Mackie (Doctor Who, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) as Sylvia, and Yanexi Enriquez ( Though This be Madness, Much Ado About Nothing) as Petrova Fossil.

They will join the previously announced cast including Sonya Cullingford as Winifred, Jenny Galloway as Nana, Nadine Higgin as Theo Dane, Helena Lymbery as Doctor Jakes, Xolisweh Ana Richards as Ballet Dancer & Ensemble, Sid Sagar as Jayan Saravanan, Grace Saif as Pauline Fossil, Justin Salinger as GUM/Fidolia, and Daisy Sequerra as Posy Fossil.

In the Ensemble are Stacy Abalogun, Eryck Brahmania, Cordelia Braithwaite, Michelle Cornelius, Courtney George, Georges Hann, Philip Labey, Sharol Mackenzie, Nuwan Hugh Perera and Katie Singh; and On-stage swing is Katie Lee.

Ballet Shoes is set in a crumbling house full of dinosaur bones and fossils, where 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?

Joining director Katy Rudd in the creative team are set designer Frankie Bradshaw, costume designer Samuel Wyer, choreographer Ellen Kane, composer Asaf Zohar, dance arrangements and orchestrations Gavin Sutherland, lighting designer Paule Constable, sound designer Ian Dickinson for Autograph, video designer Ash J Woodward, casting director Bryony Jarvis-Taylor, dialect coach Penny Dyer, voice coaches Cathleen McCarron and Tamsin Newlands, associate choreographer Jonathan Goddard and staff director Aaliyah Mckay.

Ballet Shoes will play in the Olivier theatre from 23 November 2024 to 22 February 2025.

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