This month, nineteen young dancers took to our foyers to deliver an unforgettable Curtain Raiser performance ahead of the opening night of Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby.

The performance served as a heartfelt tribute to the late Benjamin Zephaniah, a much-loved cultural figure whose legacy continues to inspire a generation.

The six-minute piece was choreographed by Charlotte Edmonds, who previously trained at Rambert, and featured dancers aged 16–25 from across the region. Recruited through our young community, dance talent development network, community partners and education programmes, the young cast spent six days rehearsing, creating, and shaping the work in collaboration with Edmonds, developing not only their skills but also their connection to the piece.

The performance opened with spoken word by Sipho Ndlovu, a former mentee of Zephaniah, whose poignant words echoed through the foyers. The dancers broke into smaller groups, moving among the crowd and creating powerful interactions, before coming together to perform as one.

Reflecting on the performance, Mathilde Petford, Young People and Community Manager, said: “Rambert is the oldest dance company in the country; combining their history with Birmingham Hippodrome’s 125-year legacy to spotlight the future of dance in our region was profound. For the young people to know they’ve had a platform like that is life-changing; to work with Rambert, meet their Artistic Director and Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, is career defining.”

The result was far more than a prelude to a headline show – it was a performance that honoured a legacy, empowered young performers, and left a lasting impression on everyone who witnessed it.