Rambert’s Death Trap comes to York

World-famous dance company Rambert return to York Theatre Royal after 33 years, with Death Trap - a new, darkly funny and exciting programme of stylish and inspiring dance.

Rambert first toured to York Theatre Royal in 1951 and for almost 40 years were regular visitors to the city – returning 17 times between 1951 and 1990. Their last visit was in February 1990. York Theatre Royal are thrilled to be welcoming this extraordinary company back to York in October for two incredible evenings, not to be missed.

Following the popular success of their latest production, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, which saw audiences in excess of 100,000, Rambert returns to the stage this Autumn with Death Trap, devised by Ben Duke (of Lost Dog).

Opening at York’s Theatre Royal on 03 October 2023,  Death Trap will tour to Bath’s Theatre Royal and London’s Sadler’s Wells in November 2023, before going back on the road in the Spring of 2024, touring to a total of 10 theatres including a visit to Paris’ Théâtre de la Ville.

Bringing together Goat (2017) and Cerberus (2022), Death Trap continues Rambert’s focus on storytelling and characters, and features awe inspiring performances by Rambert’s diverse company of dancers, with live music by an on-stage band.

Death Trap is infused with Ben Duke’s irresistible, stylish and accessible sense of dance theatre, is darkly funny, and packed with originality.

In Cerberus, we enter a world where dance is literally a matter of life or death. An ingenious adaptation of the Greek tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, it is a bittersweet musing on myth and mortality, complete with funeral couture. Goat is inspired by the spirit of Nina Simone, with iconic songs including Feelings, Feeling Good and Ain’t Got No / I Got, Life.

Both pieces are recreated for this tour by Ben Duke and Rambert dancers Adél Bálint, Angélique Blasco, Simone Damberg Würtz, Max Day, Conor Kerrigan, Joseph Kudra, Naya Lovell, Musa Motha, Aishwarya Raut, Antonello Sangirardi, Alex Soulliere, Dylan Tedaldi, Jonathan Wade, Archie White and Seren Williams.

Helen Shute, CEO | Executive Producer of Rambert says:

We’re thrilled to be taking Rambert back on the road from October.

And this new evening in collaboration with Ben Duke is a great opportunity to connect with new and returning audiences across the country and beyond.

Benoit Swan Pouffer, Artistic Director of Rambert says:

We’re very happy to welcome Ben Duke back in our studios to revisit Goat and Cerberus together. Our dancers come from varied backgrounds, bringing with them a breadth of skills shaped by different experiences, and Ben’s unique sense of theatre allows them to explore characterisation through storytelling in their individual and collective performance.

And of this new collaboration with Rambert, Ben Duke says:

I first worked with Rambert in 2017 and while I, and the company, have changed a lot since then, I feel like this history gives me a sense of partnership. The work I make is always inspired by and made with the performers and it is a privilege to find myself in a room with these exceptional artists. Their diversity of background means that they bring such a richness of experience into the space, and it is their talent and generosity that really make this work.

York Theatre Royal 03-04 Oct

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