Norwich Theatre and its co-producing partner Valid Productions are delighted to announce their 2024 tour of On Before which includes dates at Edinburgh, Plymouth, Birmingham and Buxton and an international stop at Sarasota (FL) Opera House.
First conceived by Carlos Acosta in 2010, On Before is an intensely personal evening of dance created, directed, and performed by the legendary Cuban dancer. On Before pays homage to Acosta’s late mother and is the most personal work he has ever created.
It features choreography by world renowned artists, including Russell Maliphant, Kim Brandstrup, and Will Tuckett, alongside Acosta’s choreography. Acosta will perform as both a soloist and alongside Laura Rodríguez, a founding member of his Cuban dance company, Acosta Danza.
The production will open for two nights at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh from Friday 16 February 2024, before touring to Theatre Royal Plymouth (27-28 Feb), Birmingham Hippodrome (6-7 May) and Buxton Opera House as part of the Buxton International Festival (19-21 July).
For the first time, Norwich Theatre takes a show to USA, with two nights at the Opera House, Sarasota, Florida, 19 and 20 April 2024. This will be Carlos Acosta’s first performance in the United States since 2018.
Carlos Acosta CBE, said: “It gives me an enormous pleasure to share with you my most personal show to date in celebration of my 50th birthday. I am delighted to be working with Norwich Theatre again to tour On Before to venues in the UK and to Sarasota in the USA”
Stephen Crocker, Chief Executive & Creative Director of Norwich Theatre, said: “It is always joyous and inspirational to work with Carlos and this project is very special for Norwich Theatre not only because of the show itself, but the spirit of bravery, ambition and commitment to dance that it embodies.”
A powerful story of a doomed relationship between a man and a woman, On Before is set to a diverse musical repertoire ranging from Handel to Cuban contemporary composer Omar Puente and culminating in a moving finale featuring a live choir performing Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium.
‘Sophisticated beautifully thought-out work’ The Observer
‘A journey worth following’ The Telegraph
‘Dance with beauty and style’ The Guardian