Manchester has been no stranger to welcoming the Peaky Blinders juggernaut over the years. The cast and crew of the hit BBC drama have regularly used the city's backstreets and waterways to double for 1920s and 30s Birmingham, while interest in the show has even spawned Manchester's own Peaky Blinders themed bar.
Now fans of the period drama can expect a rather different return of Peaky Blinders to Greater Manchester - this time as a dance show. Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby opens at The Lowry Theatre in Salford next week, running from March 14 to 18.
A worldwide audience of millions caught the first sneak peek of the production last year, when the dancers from the show performed memorably at the closing routine of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Now, audiences are getting to enjoy the full, exhilarating experience of the Shelby family saga reinterpreted on the stage through dance.
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And audiences can certainly expect the legitimate Peaky experience - as the show has been co-created by the Peaky Blinders original series creator Steven Knight alongside the acclaimed Rambert Dance Company. What tempted him to the project?
Well, he says: "I'm a firm believer in doing things that you haven't done before otherwise it's boring, so the idea of telling people that Peaky Blinders will be presented through dance is great.”
Is it exciting to be bringing in a new audience with this work? “It really is, and it is one of the reasons why we decided to do it," he adds.
“I’m proud that Peaky Blinders isn't high brow or it isn't of a particular class - it's a cross section of people from different backgrounds, and so it does appeal to different people too. People may not always walk through a door marked 'dance' but they may walk through a door marked 'Peaky Blinders', and so it's the idea that you can connect with new audiences by welcoming them through that setting.
"This is dance for people who don’t usually watch dance and what I’ve written has been transformed into something startling by consummate dancers and choreographers. If the concept of a Peaky Blinders dance seems strange, reserve judgement and reserve a ticket.
“Saying that, the BBC's most popular TV show across all demographics is Strictly Come Dancing so audiences love watching people dance. It isn't like it's restricted to certain people of a level of education or income, as people have been dancing for 10,000+ years.
“Isn't it great that something like this can work, and it challenges the idea that there are these rigid barriers between class and entertainment?”
Steven describes Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby as: “Romantic, tragic and uplifting." Perhaps words that would indeed suit the entire Peaky series with its highs and lows over the years.
There will be an eclectic Peaky soundtrack from live on-stage musicians, to present the story at the end of World War One following Tommy Shelby and Grace Burgess through their passionate love affair. Guillaume Quéau and Prince Lyons will alternate the role of Thomas Shelby, with Aishwarya Raut, Naya Lovell and Seren Williams alternating the role of Grace, in a performance that sees the permanent Rambert dance company take to the stage.
Birmingham-born writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah, who played street preacher Jeremiah Jesu in the TV series, has provided pre-recorded narration for the production. This coincides with a band of live musicians led by Musical Director Yaron Engler and a score written by Roman GianArthur, as well as a new track by Laura Mvula.
Steven says: "The music is central to the TV series and music is the stepping stone between the TV series and the dance piece too.
“Roman GianArthur who did the score absolutely got what Peaky Blinders was about. It isn't exactly a particular style of music as it can be folk or heavy metal, but it does need to have a certain swagger or a certain attitude to it.
“In terms of the style of music, and in the words of Cillian Murphy: 'there is music that is Peaky, and there is music that isn't Peaky. You can't always define it but you can tell when you hear it.'”
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is at The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays from March 14 - 18, age guidance is 15+. Tickets from thelowry.com
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