Quadrophenia: The Mod Ballet | The Lowry

It would be fair to state that were one to ask anyone what they think of when the word “ballet” is uttered, very few, if any at all, would conjure up an image of mods, rockers or music by The Who as having any close relation to the centuries-old dance form. So on paper, the idea of fusing together rebellious 60s rock with a form of dance synonymous with strict discipline and technique would be beyond lunacy. So it may come as a surprise that Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet, written by The Who’s guitarist Peter Townshend, fully draws us in and absolutely blows us away with just how well this melting pot of different worlds actually works.

It is a fairly down-to-earth story, one of love, hate, friendship and family, as an angsty young man named Jimmy (portrayed with irresistible style and charisma by Paris Fitzpatrick) joins the snappily dressed mods, who are constantly butting heads with rival gang the rockers in 1960s Brighton. On top of familial tension and romantic complications, he also faces trouble keeping up with the lifestyle, and struggles to find a sense of self worth. Originally an album by The Who, this new dance piece brings Townshend’s music and accompanying plot to life like never before.

The cinematic scale of it all is truly breathtaking to behold, there is such a clever cohesion between all of the creative elements, with the combination of sets, lighting and video projections in particular giving the scenery a multi-dimensional quality. Townshend’s epic score, re-orchestrated by Rachel Fuller and Martin Batchelar, only adds to this feeling of transcendence beyond being purely theatrical. This is a piece of theatre that gives the illusion of bursting beyond the limits of the proscenium arch, and has us feel like we’re right there in the midst of the action.

But at the very heart of the production was Paul Roberts’ bold, refreshingly original choreography, taking elements of traditional ballet, such as basic form, shaping and weight distribution, and infusing it with the distinctly rebellious energy that best characterised the mod movement in 60s Britain. It’s multi-genre modern dance as you’ve never seen it before, not only in its edgy, high octane presentation, but how effectively it tells the story. Ballet can be a challenge for the uninitiated, so it is an utter joy to come across a piece of dance that so cogently and successfully communicates its narrative.

This is how you do contemporary dance and Quadrophenia is a real breath of fresh air. From an art form steeped in unwavering tradition, as it has all the technique and discipline of ballet, along with the angst and aggression of 1960s mod rock culture, gloriously melded together to create a fully charged, hard hitting hybrid of classic and modern choreographed performance; this is the best movement-driven storytelling you are likely to see this year.

Quadrophenia: The Mod Ballet runs at The Lowry until Saturday 19th July 2025.

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★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Johan Persson