REVIEW - QUADROPHENIA – A MOD BALLET | THE LOWRY | 15/07/2025

Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet at The Lowry – A Five-Star Fusion of Grit, Grace and Greatness

In 1973, The Who's Pete Townshend gave us Quadrophenia, a groundbreaking rock opera that would shape a generation, later immortalised in the 1979 cult film. Fast-forward to 2025, and we now have Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet, a visually arresting, emotionally rich reinterpretation through the language of dance. Directed by Rob Ashford with choreography by Paul Roberts, this new production reimagines Jimmy’s search for identity, belonging and meaning, set against the backdrop of 1960s Mod culture. The result? A thrilling, genre-defying masterpiece that pulsates with relevance.

At the centre of Quadrophenia is Jimmy, a working-class teenager from London, swept up in the chaos of youth culture and inner turmoil. He finds solace in the sharp suits, buzzing scooters and all-night soul clubs of the Mods – but his mind is a battlefield. His personality fractures into four personas: the Romantic, the Lunatic, the Tough Guy, and the Hypocrite, each fighting for dominance in his search for who he really is.

Over the course of one turbulent week, we follow Jimmy through fraught relationships with his parents, a friendship tested by tribal loyalties, and an unrequited crush on the seemingly unattainable Mod Girl. From the streets of Soho to the windswept shores of Brighton, the story is both deeply personal and universally political – a young man trying to stay afloat in a world that doesn’t quite fit.

Visually, the production is extraordinary. Christopher Oram’s sleek, stripped-back set creates a versatile playground for projection and movement, while YeastCulture’s video design bathes the stage in flickering neon, cascading rain and crashing surf. Fabiana Piccioli’s lighting design keeps things cinematic – one moment stark and raw, the next glowing with warmth or flooded in psychedelic intensity.

Costumes by Paul Smith are a love letter to Mod fashion: razor-sharp suits, parkas, polo shirts and all. The iconic imagery isn’t just style over substance – it deepens the atmosphere and makes the world instantly recognisable to fans and newcomers alike.

The heartbeat of this production is Rachel Fuller’s sweeping orchestral reinterpretation of Townshend’s score. It’s rich, bombastic, and emotionally charged – from the introspective I Am The Sea to the electric My Generation, it’s a spine-tingling soundscape that transcends genre.

And then there’s the choreography. Paul Roberts’ movement is bold, athletic, lyrical and full of storytelling – blending classical technique with pop attitude and emotional nuance. The nightclub sequences are euphoric; the fight scenes pulse with freeze-frame tension; and the war flashback is one of the most moving sequences I’ve seen on stage – performed in near silence, broken only by breath and heartbreak.

Paris Fitzpatrick gives a career-defining performance as Jimmy – raw, restless and completely captivating. He embodies every beat of Jimmy’s emotional rollercoaster, from jittery euphoria to utter despair. His solos and duets with Taela Yeomans-Brown's Mod Girl are exquisite – brimming with longing, energy and chemistry.

Curtis Angus, Dylan Jones, Seirian Griffiths and Will Bozier shine as Jimmy’s fractured psyche – each bringing a distinct physicality and emotional texture to their roles. Whether wrestling for control or offering fleeting comfort, they are ever-present, haunting and hypnotic.

Stuart Neal and Kate Tydman deliver deeply moving turns as Jimmy’s parents – caught in a collapsing marriage and haunted by trauma. Neal’s silent war flashback scene left the entire audience breathless. Dan Baines oozes charisma as Ace Face, while Euan Garrett (The Friend) and Jack Widdowson (Godfather) round out a phenomenal ensemble with heart and presence.

Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet is not just a triumph – it’s a revelation. It takes a beloved rock opera and transforms it into something entirely new without losing its soul. This isn’t a ballet with a bit of rock thrown in, nor a concert with a few pirouettes – it’s a fully-formed, fiercely contemporary piece of dance theatre that tells its story with elegance, grit and beauty.

Whether you’re a lifelong Who fan, a Mod at heart, or simply someone looking for a powerful night at the theatre – this show is for you.

"Sharp suits, soaring strings, and soul-deep storytelling – Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet is a new classic in the making."

Quadrophenia: A Mod Ballet  is at The Lowry until Saturday 19th July 2025. Tickets are available for purchase through the link provided below.

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If you would like more information about the show, please click the button below to visit the show's official website.

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Photo Credit - Johan Persson

*Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review.