Cinematik, distributing under their new screen based performing arts identity Eido, and English National Ballet have announced the Company’s landmark 2026 performance of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s The Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Albert Hall will screen at over 150 UK cinemas from 13 October 2026.
The filmed performance marks the first time English National Ballet has performed iconic choreographer Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s The Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Albert Hall, with sumptuous costumes by legendary designer Nicholas Georgiadis and new set design created by MacMillan’s daughter Charlotte MacMillan.
First premiered in 1890, Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty was instantly revered. In 1987, Sir Kenneth MacMillan reimagined the ballet for the American Ballet Theatre. English National Ballet is the only company in the world currently performing MacMillan’s version.
With its lavish design, intricate choreography, and soaring Tchaikovsky score performed by English National Ballet Philharmonic and conducted by Maria Seletskaja, The Sleeping Beauty is set to bring MacMillan’s ballet retelling of one of the world’s favourite fairytales to UK cinema audiences this October.
For the dancers The Sleeping Beauty is one of ballet’s most serious tests of skill and stamina. “It’s one of the hardest technical classical ballets to dance” explains English National Ballet Artistic Director Aaron S. Watkin.
Sir Kenneth MacMillan came from a working-class Scottish family with no background in dance or music but was determined from an early age to become a dancer. In 1940, MacMillan was evacuated from Great Yarmouth, a target for German air raids in the Second World War, to Retford, Nottinghamshire. Here, a local dance teacher changed 10-year-old MacMillan’s life by introducing him to ballet.
Macmillan danced in The Sleeping Beauty at London’s Royal Opera House in 1946 when he was just 16 years old in one of his earliest performances, two decades before he would choreograph his own version. Lady MacMillan reveals: “He believed The Sleeping Beauty to be the most important ballet in the classical repertoire. He learned how to choreograph from it. It was his touchstone.”
Despite being a promising young dancer, severe stage fright led MacMillan to pursue choreography instead aged 23. He became one of the most influential, disruptive and beloved ballet choreographers of the twentieth century, creating more than 60 ballets and developing the talents of dancers such as Dame Monica Mason and Dame Darcey Bussell who he made The Royal Ballet’s youngest ever Principal Dancer at age 20.
MacMillan was with The Royal Ballet for his entire professional life until his death in 1992, first as Director, then as Principal Choreographer.
These cinema screenings continue English National Ballet’s groundbreaking work for more than 75 years ensuring ballet reaches mainstream and diverse audiences across the UK.
The Sleeping Beauty stars English National Ballet First Soloist Anna Nevzorova as Aurora, Associate Guest Artist and Principal of Australian Ballet Davi Ramos as Prince Désiré, and First Artists Anri Sugiura and Eireen Evrard as Lilac Fairy and Carabosse respectively.
Cinematik is an industry-leading distribution platform, harnessing cutting-edge technology, data and precision marketing to connect UK cinema audiences with the content they want to see. Cinematik founder Kips Davenport says: “We are proud to be bringing The Sleeping Beauty to UK cinemas this October. This event cinema moment continues the rise and rise of performing arts on screen. I can’t wait to see audiences come together to watch one of the world’s greatest and most creative dance companies on the big screen.”
English National Ballet presents The Sleeping Beauty is in UK cinemas from 13 October 2026. Sign up for tickets at enbsleepingbeautycinema.com.
