NORTHERN Ballet brings Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Les Ballets de Monte Carlo’s production of Romeo And Juliet to Leeds Grand Theatre from Wednesday to March 12.

Set to Prokofiev’s score, played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia, Maillot’s work is a modern interpretation of the classical ballet, capturing the raw sensuality of the young lovers as they embark on their impulsive love affair.

This production is Northern Ballet’s first collaboration with Maillot, who latterly created a new version of The Taming Of The Shrew for the Bolshoi Ballet.

This is the first time his Romeo And Juliet has been performed in Britain and by a British company; the UK pemière opens at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre tonight before arriving in Northern Ballet's home city six days later. A national tour will follow in the autumn of 2016.

"In this adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, my primary objective is to sincerely portray the powerful emotions to the audience so that they share in the passionate love of the young couple and take a journey with them," says Maillot.

"Interpreting the narrative is a specialism of Northern Ballet and for this reason I am curious and excited to see how the dancers will respond to the choreography and I am honoured that they will be the first British company to perform one of my ballets."

Northern Ballet’s artistic director, David Nixon, says of Maillot's choreography: "Jean-Christophe's adaptation of Romeo And Juliet is an inspired contemporary response to the classic play and our talented dancers are ideally suited to interpret his wonderful language. This is a new production for our audiences to experience and reflect upon and I am delighted that we will be the first British company to present Jean-Christophe Maillot's work."

Tickets can be booked at leedsgrandtheatre.com or on 0844 848 2700.