Northern Ballet pushes boundaries with its captivating new production, `Gentleman Jack`, which marks a significant milestone as potentially the first lesbian love story to grace a major ballet stage. This innovative show skillfully balances progressive themes with a conventional balletic form. Inspired by the remarkable life of Anne Lister, the 19th-century Yorkshire landowner known as Gentleman Jack, the production boasts choreography by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa that maintains a firm grasp on the narrative while showcasing the dancers’ exceptional abilities through long arabesques and fluid movements.
The result is an accessible and stylish presentation that courageously places the love between women (specifically, three relationships) at its core. Gemma Coutts delivers a powerful portrayal of Lister, embodying her with a top hat, frock coat, and flat ballet shoes, mirroring the choreography’s strength and straightforwardness. Coutts imbues Lister with a confident motif – a distinct flick of the hip and leg – radiating self-assurance. She commands attention, rapping her cane on the floor and seeing men fall into line.
However, the ballet also explores Lister’s romantic depth. A particularly potent and erotically charged pas de deux unfolds on a dining table between Lister and her great love, Mariana (Saeka Shirai). While tastefully executed and not explicit, the scene emanates undeniable heat, tenderness, and desire. In a striking moment, Lister uses the bell she typically employs to summon staff, not to touch Mariana, but to weave it intimately around her body, causing Mariana to visibly shiver. She then sensually brushes it down Mariana’s spine. This sequence stands out as some of the most alluring and inventive choreography seen in recent times.