1987 – Stage premiere of Gillian Lynne’s A Simple Man by Northern Ballet Theatre

Commissioned by the City of Salford as part of its celebration of the artist L.S. Lowry, A Simple Man follows the painter’s search for subjects, and his relationships with his mother and the girls, both real and imagined, who came into his life. Originally created for BBC Television to music by Carl Davis and designs by Tim Goodchild, A Simple Man was a hugely successful production when it was transferred to the stage. It marked a turning point in the company’s history and established its reputation for great versatility. The cast of the television production included Christopher Gable as the artist and Moira Shearer as his mother. The ballet was first performed on stage at the Palace Theatre, Manchester. At later performances, Lynn Seymour joined Gable on stage.