WA Ballet announces Australian premiere production of Alice Topp’s Macbeth at His Majesty’s Theatre in 2026

WA Ballet’s 2026 season is turning into quite the bloodthirsty affair with an Australian premiere reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth added to next year’s program, alongside the previously announced remount of the company’s award-winning production, Dracula. Macbeth, a new co-production with Royal New Zealand Ballet, will see former The Australian Ballet dancer and choreographer Alice Topp return to WA Ballet following her five-star world premiere of Butterfly Effect at His Majesty’s Theatre in September. Reuniting with many of her Butterfly Effect creative team, Topp’s commissioning will explore Macbeth’s themes of power and betrayal through a modern lens, the high-octane contemporary ballet set in the world of politics and media manipulation. The score by Christopher Gordon will be infused with music genres from heavy metal to progressive rock and jazz. “This reimagining of Macbeth with Alice Topp has all the ingredients to be a very exciting production,” WA Ballet incoming artistic director Leanne Stojmenov said. “It brings together not only these two wonderful ballet companies, but an extraordinary creative team.” Macbeth will be staged at His Majesty’s Theatre, September 4 to 19, following seasons of Incandescence: Ballet At The Quarry, Genesis and Dracula. The Bram Stoker-inspired ballet will also have an additional season in Adelaide, marking the Maylands-based company’s return to interstate touring for the first time in more than a decade. The year will wrap with festive family favourite, The Nutcracker. Season packages on sale from 10am, October 15, with single tickets on sale 10am, November 5 at waballet.com.au.