The British author turns her hand to dance in an adaptation of Grimm’s twisted fairytale.

British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has been commissioned to pen a ballet based on the classic Rapunzel fairytale. Sadler’s Wells Theatre approached the official poet to the Queen after winning a £600,000 grant from the Monument Trust, to be used specifically for commissioning new work. Sadler’s Wells describes the project as family-friendly dance theatre rather than traditional ballet.

The production will be a collaboration between Duffy and choreographer Liv Lorent of dance company balletLORENT. Murray Gold, screen composer for the revival run of Doctor Who, has been brought in to write the music, and Michele Clapton, whose costume designs have been seen on the HBO television series Game of Thrones, will work her magic on the garments.

Duffy, whose work abounds with dark fantasies and twisted portrayals of classical myths and legends, has written a number of plays, but this will be her first foray into ballet. Her Rapunzel is set to startle audiences used to watered-down versions of the tale of an innocent princess held captive, with only her long golden tresses as means of escape. Duffy has drawn inspiration from the original...