19.10.2026
A year of spectacular stories and
dynamic dancing, from Spain to Wonderland.
The Royal New Zealand Ballet today announces its 2027 programme: a year of spectacular stories, dynamic dancing and extraordinary theatrical experiences, featuring a beloved classical comedy,
a breathtaking triple bill, a major new production of Alice in Wonderland and a playful new ballet experience created especially for young audiences.
The 2027 season will take audiences from the sun-drenched streets of Spain to a moonlit kingdom of white-clad ballerinas, before tumbling down the rabbit hole in a brand-new production of one of literature’s most beloved stories.
Artistic Director Ty King-Wall says the programme celebrates the extraordinary breadth of ballet and its enduring capacity to inspire, entertain and connect.
“This year’s repertoire provides infinite inspiration and boundless joy as we embark on
a year of storytelling, and ballet’s extraordinary capacity for expression and connection,” says King-Wall.
The season opens in April with the New Zealand premiere of Lucette Aldous’ spectacular production of Don Quixote, in association with Avis, followed by the RNZB’s Winter Season, in association with Viking, featuring three works spanning classical mastery and contemporary dance.
In October, the Company will premiere a major new production of Alice in Wonderland, choreographed by RNZB Choreographer-in-Residence Sarah Foster-Sproull and created by an exceptional team of New Zealand artists. The year also includes Ballet Zoo, an interactive experience designed to introduce younger audiences to the magic of ballet and live theatre.
King-Wall says the 2027 programme has been designed to offer something for everyone, while continuing the RNZB’s commitment to bringing world-class ballet to audiences throughout Aotearoa.
“From the exuberance of Don Quixote to the extraordinary precision of Kingdom of the Shades, the beauty of For Pixie and Fool’s Paradise, and the imaginative world of Alice in Wonderland, this is a season filled with contrast and colour.
“We look forward to sharing these stories with audiences across Aotearoa and welcoming people of all ages to experience the power and transcendence of live ballet.”
To discuss interviews, story angles and request images, please contact RNZB publicist Amanda Linnell. Phone: 021 817 568 or at Amanda.linnell@rnzb.org.nz
Set in sunny Spain, this is the New Zealand premiere of Lucette Aldous’ Don Quixote – ballet’s ultimate romantic comedy, bursting with tutus, sparkle, love and laughter. Created for West Australian Ballet in 2010 by the New Zealand-born Aldous, this spectacular production follows the fiery romance of Kitri and Basilio as they navigate a series of twists and turns, helped – and hindered – by the blundering Don Quixote and his dreams of noble quests and knightly adventure. With dashing matadors, flirtatious fan dances, comic characters and some of ballet’s most thrilling pas de deux, Don Quixote is a joyful celebration of virtuosic dancing and theatrical flair.
The production, in association with Avis, features sets and costumes by Allan Lees OAM, with Ludwig Minkus’ effervescent score performed live by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Philharmonia, conducted by Hamish McKeich.
Aldous, one of the great dancers of Australian ballet, was renowned for her interpretation of Kitri, including as Rudolf Nureyev’s partner in Don Quixote. Her production brings together the grandeur and spectacle of classical ballet with warmth, humour and exhilarating dancing.
"This year’s repertoire provides infinite inspiration and boundless joy as we embark on a year of storytelling, and ballet’s extraordinary capacity for expression and connection,"
Ty King-Wall, Artistic Director
The RNZB’s annual Winter Season presents three striking works that showcase the power, precision and possibilities of ballet. At the heart of the programme is Kingdom of the Shades from Act III of La Bayadère, one of the most iconic scenes in the classical ballet canon and performed by the RNZB for the first time. Created by legendary choreographer Marius Petipa, Kingdom of the Shades is a mesmerising vision of white-clad ballerinas moving across the stage with extraordinary precision and hypnotic beauty. Supremely demanding for the dancers and unforgettable for audiences, it promises to be one of the great classical moments of the 2027 season.
Providing a contemporary contrast is Dani Rowe’s For Pixie, a tender and transfixing pas de deux inspired by Nina Simone’s Wild is the Wind and the complex, passionate relationship shared by the choreographer’s grandparents.
The programme concludes with the New Zealand premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Fool’s Paradise. Set to a luminous score by Joby Talbot, with elegant designs by Narciso Rodriguez, this acclaimed neoclassical work sees dancers move through time and space in a golden vision of rhythm, harmony and connection.
For Christmas 2027, the Royal New Zealand Ballet invites audiences to tumble down the rabbit hole in the world premiere of Alice in Wonderland. Created by RNZB Choreographer in Residence Sarah Foster-Sproull, this bold new production will bring Lewis Carroll’s timeless tale to life in a surreal, playful and theatrical world.
From the White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts to the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat, Alice in Wonderland is filled with characters that have captured imaginations for generations. At its heart is Alice herself: independent, curious and endlessly brave as she navigates an increasingly topsy-turvy world.
Drawing on the wonder of childhood reading, drawing and outdoor adventure, Foster-Sproull will fuse the iconic Tenniel illustrations with pop-up books, painted backdrops, puppetry and theatrical illusion. The production will celebrate the craft and magic of live theatre, bringing Wonderland to life without relying on digital effects.
Sets and costumes will be designed by Emma Kingsbury, whose designs for the RNZB’s Cinderella delighted audiences in 2022. An original score will be composed by dance-specialist Eden Mulholland and performed live in every venue by an onstage ensemble of multi-instrumentalists. Alice in Wonderland promises to be a free-spirited adventure for the whole family – and a spectacular finale to the RNZB’s 2027 season.
Young audiences are invited to step into the playful world of Ballet Zoo, a delightful ballet experience created especially for children. Join a lively zookeeper on a tour through her zoo in search of a missing kiwi, meeting a whānau of friendly ballet beasts along the way. Featuring tutus and tails, pointe shoes and paws, this menagerie of miniatures draws on much-loved classical ballets including The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, creating an entertaining and accessible introduction to ballet and live theatre.
The interactive 30-minute performance will be accompanied by free dance workshops and character meet-and-greet sessions, offering young audiences the chance to experience the magic of ballet both on and off the stage.
"From the exuberance of Don Quixote to the extraordinary precision of Kingdom of the Shades, the beauty of For Pixie and Fool’s Paradise, and the imaginative world of Alice in Wonderland, this is a season filled with contrast and colour."
Ty King-Wall, Artistic Director
Click here to view the full RNZB 2027 programme.
For further information, images, and interviews, please contact Amanda Linnell, publicist, on Amanda.linnell@rnzb.org.nz or +64 021 817 568.
ON STAGE 2027
Don Quixote in association with Avis
15 April – 15 May
Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Hamilton, Napier, Dunedin
Winter Season in association with Viking
15 July – 31 July
Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch
Ballet Zoo
18 July – 1 August
Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch
Alice in Wonderland
28 October – 19 December
Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Palmerston North