Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) has announced the Spring 2026 tour of POPPY, opening the company’s 15th anniversary year and launching a programme of celebratory activity marking fifteen years of contemporary dance making.
First created in 2018, POPPY returns in a newly reimagined production, touring venues across the North East and Tunbridge Wells from February to March 2026. The work will serve as the opening chapter of ESD’s anniversary year, celebrating the company’s artistic journey while looking confidently towards its future.
Choreographed by Eliot Smith and performed by five outstanding dancers, POPPY is accompanied by an original score by multi-award-winning composer Adam Johnson. Inspired by the symbolism of the poppy and the poetry of John McCrae, the work explores themes of love, loss, conflict and resilience, following a couple separated by the outbreak of World War II.
“Opening our 15th anniversary year with POPPY feels incredibly meaningful,” said Eliot Smith, Creative Director of Eliot Smith Dance. “It’s a work that reflects on memory, humanity and connection — themes that resonate deeply with our journey as a company and the communities we work with.”
Eliot Smith Dance kicks off their Spring 2026 tour at Hexham’s Queen’s Hall on 12 February, followed by Warkworth’s Memorial Hall on 14 February, Newbiggin’s Maritime Centre on 18 February, Newcastle’s Gosforth Civic Theatre on 19 February, and Spennymoor’s Settlement Theatre on 28 February. It concludes on 7 March at Tunbridge Wells’ Trinity Theatre.
Each performance lasts approximately 40 minutes and is followed by a free post-show talk with the company. The production is suitable for ages 10+ and venues offer accessible seating.
Founded in 2011 and based at Dance City in Newcastle upon Tyne, Eliot Smith Dance has grown into a nationally and internationally recognised contemporary dance company. Over the past 15 years, ESD has presented work across the UK and internationally, while delivering award-winning engagement programmes that use dance to improve wellbeing and connect communities.
Eliot Smith Dance’s 15th anniversary year in 2026 will be filled with vibrant activity, featuring a diverse range of performances, workshops, community projects, and a special celebratory event later in the year to honour the company’s remarkable legacy and the artists, collaborators, and supporters who have shaped its journey since its founding in 2011.
In addition to the Spring 2026 tour of the reimagined POPPY, key highlights include a full programme of performances and participatory activities designed to engage communities across the North East and beyond; the eagerly awaited special 15th anniversary celebration event; and Eliot Smith: Return, an intimate, personal evening showcasing three solo works performed by Eliot Smith himself, offering a reflective insight into his creative path over the past 15 years.
Tickets for Eliot Smith Dance’s Spring tour may be found at www.eliotsmithdance.com/spring2026
