Ballet Shoes

In a crumbling house full of dinosaur bones and fossils, three adopted sisters – Pauline, Petrova and Posy – are learning who they are and what they want to be.

Under the watchful eyes and guidance of their guardian Sylvia, Nana, and some unlikely lodgers, they fight to pursue their individual passions. But in a world that wasn’t built for girls with big ambitions, can they forge a future, keep their family together, and even learn a dance or two along the way?

First published in 1936, Ballet Shoes is a heartwarming and uplifting tale of three very different orphaned siblings who follow their passions and work hard to smash ceilings as they strive to lift their family out of poverty.

Bringing this beloved novel to the stage for this special festive production is director Katy Rudd (The Ocean at the End of the Lane), in a new stage version created by Kendall Feaver (The Almighty Sometimes).

What the reviews say

"an exquisite Christmas cracker of a show...filled with spectacular theatricality and fabulous performances all round" ~ The Guardian

"a vivid stage version of Noel Streatfeild’s tale of self-discovery. Kendall Feaver’s dramatisation at the National Theatre galvanises the classic children’s novel into a modern work" ~ Financial Times

"Bravo – this superlative adaptation never puts a foot wrong" ~ The Standard

"A playful, graceful adaptation – and a palpable hit. This first ever stage adaptation of the beloved children’s classic is a joy – an un-balletic stampede to the box office surely awaits it". ~ The Telegraph

"If you see one show this Christmas season, make it the exuberant, lovable Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre" ~ Independent