‘Ballet of Lights’ in Liverpool breathes new life into tales that have been told for over 100 years. With every pirouette, plié and assemblé, tales of a sleepy princess and a glass-slipper dream shines under a new light, because each ballerina is dressed in costumes adorned head-to-toe in fibre-optic lights.
What is ‘Ballet of Lights’?
At ‘Ballet of Lights’, tutus, tiaras, and leotards worn by the talented ballerinas are illuminated thanks to light-changing optical fibres. As a result, the captivating choreography in ballets including Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella literally lights up the stage. Audiences are taken on an adventure guided by mesmerising dance routines and a sprinkle of luminous magic inside Liverpool Playhouse Theatre. It’s an abridged version of the story, which makes it more accessible for everyone.
Ballet of Lights in Liverpool: Which story is being performed now?
Ballet of Lights is a 60-minute spectacle designed for audiences aged 5 and above. While new productions are always on the way, these are the enchanting tales set to sparkle in Liverpool this season.
Sleeping Beauty
Originating from the timeless fairy tales of Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, Sleeping Beauty endures as a symbol of hope, renewal and the triumph of light over darkness. The familiar tale of a princess cursed into deep sleep takes on new visual life in Ballet of Lights. As the dancers move through scenes of enchantment and awakening, their fiber‑optic costumes shift in color and intensity — mirroring the passage from slumber to rebirth. Tchaikovsky’s iconic score grounds the performance, its sweeping melodies intertwining with luminous choreography to evoke both wonder and grace. This version turns every pirouette into a spark, every awakening into a glow of possibility.
Cinderella
Cinderella remains one of the most universal stories of all time — a celebration of kindness, transformation, and hope. In Ballet of Lights, the heroine truly shines: her glowing costume mirrors the magic of her metamorphosis, dimming as midnight strikes. The score blends pieces from Tchaikovsky, Händel and Rossini, creating an atmosphere of both nobility and dreamlike beauty. Here, classical elegance and visual poetry intertwine to let every emotion shimmer across the stage.
On selected dates over the coming months, these enchanting spectacles of dance and light are illuminating Liverpool. Each ballet show takes place over the course of 60 minutes and doors open 45 minutes before the show’s start time. Seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis in each section and late entry is not permitted.