Gentleman Jack – Northern Ballet ★★★★★

By The Recs RJC 2 months ago

Northern Ballet bring to the stage the extraordinary story of Anne Lister – with the world premiere of ‘Gentleman Jack’.

Gentleman Jack, Northern Ballet’s new work, is something so stylish that the desire to wrap yourself in it is irresistible. Based on the true story of the late 18th century’s Anne Lister, a remarkable, assertive Yorkshire woman, the ballet tells of her life as a land-owning businesswoman. And if these things weren’t unusual enough, she is also sometimes described as ‘the first modern lesbian’. Choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, with dramaturg Clare Croft and composer Peter Salem, this collaboration deserves a very special place in this company’s remarkable catalogue of original works.

The curtain opens on an empty stage with an entirely plain grey back cloth but instantly it is full of movement and meaning as Anne Lister stands strong and determined even whilst encircled by a group of male industrialists who seek to intimidate her. Played at this performance by Gemma Coutts, Anne Lister cuts a dashing figure, elegant and powerful, with some quirky movements which come to define her peculiarities in a way that transfixes, fleshing out her character.

Image by Tristram Kenton

Anne’s relationship with her uncle and aunt, James and Anne Lister (Albert Gonzalez Orts and Heather Lehan), is an important one. Their acceptance of their niece’s maverick personality is perhaps one of the aspects which enables her to become the woman she was destined to be – it is from them, too, that she inherits Shibden Hall.

Scene changes are beautifully delivered by way of mobile screens, which bear almost magical photographic images, showing moorland, factories, or the half-timbered hall, instantly indicating the location. This is especially pertinent when, in the second act, Anne Lister spends time amongst the gaiety dancers of Paris.

Image by Colleen Mair

Naturally, being a woman in a man’s world sits uncomfortably with the patriarchy, to the extent that Lister becomes an object of both fear and hatred, seeing her beaten and left low – but decidedly unbowed.

This whole piece is sexually charged: Anne’s lover, Mariana (Saeka Shirai), is less overt with her preference and struggles with her otherness before leaving Anne for a stiffly conventional life with Christopher Rawson (George Liang), but the passion between them was real. Anne’s inner demons are expressed in her coded diaries, which manifest here as swirling bodies – a chorus of words that deliver her thoughts in dances as striking.

Images by Emily Nuttall

Meeting again the enchanting heiress Ann Walker, first seen whilst out walking, Lister’s seductive charm proves overwhelming, and extricating herself from the grip of her protective relations, Christopher Lawton and his wife (Jackson Dwyer and Alessandra Bramante), they embark on the most erotic scene amongst the books of the library, strewing clothes amongst the tomes.

As the piece draws to a close, there is a symbolic marriage of the Annes – Anne Lister on pointe for the first time in the ballet, accentuating both her femininity and her strength. It is a deeply moving moment as the women devote themselves to each other and create an image which is vividly of our time and of all time: its contemporary relevance peaks.

The rapturous audience lost no time in showing their appreciation for this extraordinary night of drama, with great whoops and cheers from every level of the auditorium. Perhaps it would be as well for Timothée Chalamet to see for himself just how much people care about this art and its ability to inspire emotional depth.

Where biography meets breathtaking ballet ★★★★★ 5 stars

Gentleman Jack Tickets

Gentleman Jack plays at Leeds Grand until 14 March before continuing its tour to Sheffield, Nottingham, London, Norwich, Salford, and Bradford. The Recs highly recommends.

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