Black Sabbath – The Ballet to tour the UK

Birmingham Royal Ballet have today revealed the return of Black Sabbath – The Ballet.

The news follows the Birmingham band’s farewell show at Villa Park in their hometown of Birmingham this summer. As such, the ballet will enjoy a homecoming at Birmingham Hippodrome ahead of a UK tour, as well as dates in Europe and the USA.

Having premiered in 2023, the new tour will incorporate brand-new audio interviews with Black Sabbath band members, voices such as Sharon Osbourne and fans. Additionally, the sound design has been revised and sharpened.

Birmingham Royal Ballet director, Carlos Acosta, said: “Back in 2023 we were blown away by the awesome success of Black Sabbath – The Ballet, selling out at every performance with standing ovations and bringing audiences that had never experienced live dance before to the theatre.”

He added: “Now, in 2025, we are cranking the volume up to 11 with a big, bold UK tour that is sure to knock everyone’s socks off!”

Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath co-founder, lead guitarist and co-songwriter, commented: “Black Sabbath have always been innovators and never been predictable, and it doesn’t come any more unpredictable than this! It was incredible to see what Carlos and the team at Birmingham Royal Ballet did back in 2023 – bringing our music to life in a way I never thought possible! It’s fantastic that more fans across the country get to see this extraordinary production this autumn on a UK tour.”

Some of Black Sabbath’s most iconic songs have been reimagined by classical composer Christopher Austin who has worked closely with Iommi. The eight Black Sabbath tracks featured are: Paranoid (Paranoid, 1970);  Ironman (Paranoid, 1970); War Pigs (Paranoid, 1970); Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath, 1970); Solitude (Master of Reality, 1971);  Orchid (Master of Reality, 1971); Laguna Sunrise (Vol 4, 1972) and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973). They are performed live at every performance by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and guitarist Marc Hayward.

Austin said: “For the music team, creating the score for this extraordinary ballet has been an exhilarating journey, and it all began with the most amazing gift from Tony: his trust in us to honour the band’s music and his encouragement to follow our own new paths with those iconic songs.”

A full-length, three-act, Ballet Now commission, Black Sabbath – The Ballet was created by a host of international talent, including choreographers Pontus Lidberg, Raúl Reinoso and Cassi Abranches and additional composers Sun Keting and Marko Myberg. Dramaturgy is by Richard Thomas and lighting design is by KJ. It is designed by Alexandre Arrechea.

The tour will start in Birmingham from 18 to 27 September, before visiting the Lowry, Salford from 8 to 11 October, Plymouth Theatre Royal from 16 to 18 October, Sadler’s Wells in London from 22 to 25 October, and Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 30 October to 1 November.