A group of dancers in costume holding the skirts of their dresses

Made in Leeds: Wailers

Wailers is a work that gives thanks to life.

To its struggles, beauty and its people. Those with us and no longer with us. It is a prayer for guidance.

Choreographer Mthuthuzeli November won the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production in 2020 for his creation Ingoma with Ballet Black. In 2021 he made the short film What Used To, No Longer Is for Northern Ballet.

Watch his new work Wailers exclusively in Leeds and London this autumn as part of our mixed programme Made in Leeds: Three Short Ballets.

Dancers perform celebratory in unison
Two people sit on the stage comforting each other, others look on with concern
Dancer in a white dress with black details standing on a stage on one foot, en pointe, and arms lifted to shoulder height.
Group of dancers stand, their heads held high and their arms outstretched in front of them
Mother and daughter stand in front of each other, heads bowed against a black background
Dancer kneels on the floor while another stands behind her
Four dancers are around a fifth standing, arms outstretched, en pointe, and head back
Two female dancers reach out to a cracked wall
Two dancer close, rest their foreheads against each other while looking down
One dancer embraces another for comfort while others reach out in support
Dancer in dark vest reaches up and looks to the sky
Dancers stands one arm raised and following that line with their gaze.
Dancer stands in front of a dry, cracked wall

Made in Leeds: Three Short Ballets

Dancer in a shower of of pink petals wearing a regency dress with an over-sized skirt.

Made in Leeds: Three Short Ballets

A mixed programme of works by emerging choreographers including Mthuthuzeli November.
Read more
Dancer wearing a voluminous white skirt holding her forearms crossed in front of her face.

Made in Leeds: Ma Vie

Rehearsal photographs of Ma Vie taken by Mthuthuzeli November and George Liang.
Read more
Two dancers dress in red, one is on the floor looking up at the other who is turned away but sees him over her shoulder

Made in Leeds: Nostalgia

Stina Quagebeur's Nostalgia captures that bittersweet emotion. A state of longing, poignancy, a piercing joy as well as an acute awareness of passing time.
Read more

Creative Team

Choreography
Music
  • Mthuthuzeli November
Costume Design
  • Yann Seabra
Set Design
  • Steve Wilkins
  • Mthuthuzeli November
Orchestration & Conductor
  • George Morton
Musical Producer
Poetry
  • Siphokazi Jonas
Lighting

Wardrobe

Costumes cut and made by
Assisted by
  • Becky Smith
  • Lucy Howson
Printed fabric by
  • L&S Prints, Keighley
Hair & Make-up
  • Harriet Rogers
Pointe Shoes by
  • Freed of London
Production Supported by
John Ellerman Foundation
The Keith Howard Foundation
The Liz & Terry Bramall Foundation
Nick Lyle & Nellie Nelson
Music Supported by
PRS For Music Foundation

Photos by Emma Kauldhar, George Liang and Mthuthuzeli November.