To celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2019, Scottish Ballet launched an ambitious Five in Five Campaign – to commission and stage five new full-length ballets in five years, one for every decade of our company’s history. This was a huge undertaking, but one that brought rich rewards.
New work challenges and motivates our dancers, attracts the very best artists to Scotland and inspires the next generation of young dancers. We also stimulated and nourished our audiences and communities.
We have the talent, we have the drive and we have the experience to create something truly special.
Christopher Hampson, CEO/Artistic Director
We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of valued patrons to help us achieve our ambitious target of £5million. The pandemic naturally had a knock-on effect on our original timeline, which means the fifth and final ballet in this Campaign, Mary, Queen of Scots, premiered at Edinburgh International Festival in 2025.
By supporting this initiative, patrons ensured our dancers and audiences were inspired by the excellence Scottish Ballet can offer.
The Crucible and The Snow Queen formed part of our 50th anniversary season in 2019-20, and are the first of the five new commissions.
ARTHUR MILLER’S DRAMA OF POWER AND PERSECUTION
Helen Pickett’s choreography unleashes the emotional force of Miller’s masterpiece, vividly accompanied by a live orchestra performing Peter Salem’s haunting score.
A GLITTERING WINTER TALE
This glittering production is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale.
The Scandal at Mayerling and Coppélia were premiered in 2022, and are the third and fourth of the five new commissions.
A TRUE STORY OF DESIRE AND DESTRUCTION
The year is 1889 and, in the woods outside Vienna, the royal family must hide a terrible secret.
A JAW-DROPPING SCI-FI EXTRAVAGANZA
Scottish Ballet presents a jaw-dropping, contemporary rework of Coppélia that took the Edinburgh International Festival by storm, wowing critics and audiences alike.
Mary, Queen of Scots premiered in 2025. This is the fifth and final of the five new commissions.
TWO WOMEN. TWO CROWNS. ONE STORY.
As death approaches, Elizabeth I of England is haunted by memories – real and imagined – of her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots.
We warmly acknowledge and thank the following patrons generously supporting our Five in Five Campaign.
Bentley Foundation
The Monument Trust
The Viewforth Trust
Geoff & Mary Ball
Whisky Auctioneer Ltd
Ian Curle CBE & Lesley Curle
Kate & Gavin Gemmell CBE
The Imlay Foundation
The Munro Foundation
Anne Reece
Fiona & Ian Russell
The Turtleton Trust
& one anonymous patron
Sandy & Wendy Bannerman
Jim Pettigrew & Joanna Lawson
Iain McGlashan Charitable Trust
Mike & Susan Rutterford
& one anonymous patron
Barbara Allison CBE
Susan & Kathleen Anderson
Anna Bateson
Eleanor Bentley
Ted Brandsen
Jann & Tony Brown
Stewart & Janie Clark
Alison Cornwell
Neil & Nicola Gordon
Mandy Graham
Sophy Green
Rachel Gwyon
Christopher Hampson
Giles Hedger
Mary Hitchon
Mark Llewellin
Callum Meikle & Jill Chalmers
Colin & Virginie Morrison
Stephen Moss CBE & Joy Moss MBE
Catherine Muirden
Norman Murray CBE & Pam Murray
Jerry Ozaniec
Joyce Pringle
Juliette Paton MBE
Steven Roth
Keith Ruddock
Alex Smith
Alastair & Sheila Stewart
Helen Stuart
Malcolm & Ann Thoms
Kirsty Wark
James Watt
& one anonymous patron
Learn more about each of our Five in Five ballets with exclusive behind-the-scenes videos
