Cleopatra's blog

This page was originally published on 18 May, 2011.

Last night's London première of Cleopatra brought out the stars to enjoy Northern Ballet's new production. From Beverley Knight to Chloe Moretz, Lorraine Kelly to Elen Rives, all came to Sadler's Wells Theatre to see our new production.

This article was originally published in February 2011.

It takes no great leap of the imagination to visualise a woman undulating to music on a stage when the character embodied is Cleopatra.

This article was originally published in February 2011.

Cleopatra may have been born in 69BCE but she has remained a powerful icon ever since. Arguably no other figure in ancient history has been depicted so widely as this fascinating, and powerful woman.

Join us as we take a trip through her most enduring incarnations on stage, in film, fashion, the world of celebrity and, of course, dance.

Cleopatra's story has been retold for over 2,000 years, in this timeline we try to add a little historical perspective to the events in the ballet - a time of great turbulence across the major powers of the day - right up to the infamous bite which ended not only her life but the Pharaoh's rule of Egypt.

From 69 BC

Cleopatra born in Alexandria, Egypt to the house of Ptolemy.

Her father, Ptolemy XII, dies in 51BC, leaving a will that states his daughter and son should be co-rulers of Egypt.

Click on an image for a closer look at Christopher Giles' costume design illustrations for the Cleopatra ballet.

The images are a detailed look at the characters from Mark-Antony & Caesar to the gods Wadjyt and Apis.