• Story Synopsis

Opening in the trenches of Flanders, a personal story unfolds in post-war industrial Birmingham as the Shelby family navigates the decisions that determine their fate and Tommy is intoxicated by a mysterious newcomer, Grace.  While Tommy is building his empire, Grace is operating as an undercover agent for Special Branch, the national security intelligence-gathering unit, on a mission to get close to the heart of Tommy’s gang. As the story unfolds, hearts are broken, and revenge is sought. Key points of the story are illuminated by the Narrator, Benjamin Zephaniah (Jeremiah in the TV series).

• Key Highlights

1.Violent Aesthetics: The Body Poetry of "Suited Thugs"

Rambert transforms gangster allure into physical poetry—Tommy’s iconic "fist-clenching and ground-pounding" evolves from power to release, while ensemble "steel forest" formations (low slides and triangular arm arrays) merge elegance with ferocity.

2.Live Band: A Dark Rhapsody of Rock and Classical. Notes as Blades. 

The live band delivers an auditory assault: legendary musician Roman Gian Arthur crafts original compositions, blending the raw bass of electronic rock (like "Red Right Hand") with the melancholy of classical strings. Nick Cave and Bad Seeds, Radiohead, and other iconic "Peaky" hits are reimagined live—from the heavy metal roar of "War Pigs" to the folk-like whispers of "All My Tears." Music isn't just background—it's the "third protagonist" driving the narrative. When the distorted tones of electric guitars collide with the dancers' explosive movements, the audience experiences a "dual assault on their eardrums and retinas."

3.Stage Expressiveness: Stroboscopic Effects, Immersive Vibration of Realistic Gunfire, Creating a Black Empire

The stage design reinvents Birmingham's gritty landscape through a dark, industrial aesthetic: a cold, hard color palette permeates the entire production, with lighting effects tailored to each scene, synchronizing with the dancers' physical movements. Flickering lights recreate war flashbacks, while realistic gunshots synchronize with the dancers 'jerky motions, transforming the' Somme River trauma' from a screen memory into an immersive tremor within the theater.

4.BBC Original IP: Steven Knight Unveils Soul Secrets of Characters

As the official stage adaptation of the BBC hit series, this production is crafted by original screenwriter Steven Knight, introducing "unseen soul fragments": filling in the details of Tommy and Grace's "physical probing dance" during their first encounter, revealing the "tunnel workers' zombie memories" of the Shelby family, and even recreating the iconic "party scene" from Rambert Dance Company's cameo in Season 5, Episode 4. Narrated by Benjamin Zeferian (who played Jeremiah in the TV series), the production uses a deep voice to weave together three acts— "gang expansion, undercover conspiracy, and soul redemption" —unlocking hidden storylines for fans.

5. Dance Art Fusion: A Boundary-Breaking Experiment in Bodily Narration.

The Rambert Dance Company redefines traditional dance through "dialogue-free theater," where choreographer Benoit Swan Pouffer transforms emotions into tangible movement symbols—fragmented improvisation during war flashbacks, mechanical formations during gang brawls, and lifting rituals in moments of redemption. Without lines, dancers convey the "fragility and madness of the suit-clad thugs" through rhythmic breathing alone.

6. UK Tour Reception: Phenomenal Live Performances with Full Houses

The 2022 UK premiere ignited a "gang dance craze". Tickets for the Birmingham Theatre premiere sold out within 10 minutes, while London's three additional shows sold out immediately. The Sunday Express praised it as "a gripping spectacle, a stunning dark aesthetic, and a profound emotional resonance." The Times commended "the actors' vibrant and passionate performances," and NME hailed it as "the most immersive and intoxicating way to experience Knight's classic narrative."

7. International Influence of the Dance Company: The Asian Debut of a Century-Old Renowned Troupe

As the flagship modern dance company in the UK (established in 1926), the Lambert Dance Company is renowned for its "collective creation model," where dancers are both performers and creative contributors, with improvisational movements refined into "Peaky-style body language." This China tour marks the production’s first appearance in Asia, bringing "authentic British dark aesthetics" and is hailed as "a pilgrimage site for dance enthusiasts."

• Media Praise

★★★★

'VIGOROUS AND VIBRANT PERFORMANGES FROM THE ENTIRE CAST'

THE TIMES

★★★★

'TOMMY SHELBY TAKES THE STAGE BY STORM'

THE TELEGRAPH

★★★★★

'THRILLINGLY VISCERAL,DARKLY BEAUTIFUL AND DEEPLY MOVING'

SUNDAY EXPRESS

★★★★

'FULLOF SWAGGER AND ATTITUDE'

THE GUARDIAN