Following the excitement of the recent launch of the online Sadler's Wells Theatre Archive catalogue and accompanying display, today's timely blog brings our ongoing history and development of Sadler's Wells Theatre up-to-date.
Our previous installment, posted earlier this month, describing A new theatre for a new millennium, focused on the building and opening of a new Sadler's Wells in 1998. The theatre's success continued into the 21st century, witnessing changes in management and the introduction of commissioned and co-productions.
Ian Albery retired as Chief Executive Officer in October 2002 and was succeeded by Jean Luc Choplin, who once worked with the great Rudolf Nureyev when Managing Director of the Paris Opera ballet. A few years later, Choplin left to take up a post at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. In 2004 Alistair Spalding became Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director of Sadler’s Wells and remains in post in 2012. He has been responsible for programming at the theatre since February 2000 (when he joined as Director of Programming).
Upon Alistair Spalding's appointment as CEO, the theatre expanded to become a production house, as well as a receiving house. Internationally
renowned artists such as Sylvie Guillem and Akram Kahn were introduced as associate artists at
the Wells, allowing joint collaboration on new
works.
In the last five or so years, Sadler’s Wells has commissioned and co-produced
over 75 productions, including the new ballet The Most Incredible Thing which saw the theatre work with pop stars The Pet Shop Boys and radical choreographer
Javier De Frutos.
Matthew Bourne, arguably the country's most famous contemporary dance choreographer, is a resident artist at Sadler’s
Wells; his company New Adventures were invited to be a resident company at the
theatre in 2006. Many of Bourne’s most famous works have enjoyed their premieres at the theatre, including his 1995 all male production of Swan Lake,
his revised production of Nutcracker (2002), Edward Scissorhands (2005) and Cinderella (Christmas 2010/11) - see image below.

In March 2009, Sadler's Wells launched the Global Dance Contest, an online competition to find new dance talent from around the world. The competition runs for four years, with winners each receiving a cash prize and an invitation to perform at Sadler's Wells Sampled, an annual showcase of the best in dance from around the world. The first winner was Shu-Yi Chou, a 26-year-old choreographer from Taiwan. His work [1875] Ravel and Bolero was performed at Sadler's Wells on 30 and 31 January 2010. UK based James Wilton won the competition in 2012 with The Shortest Day.
October 2012's productions include Akram Kahn's Desh and Irish choreographer Marguerite Donlon's Rambert Dance Company debut with Labyrinth of Love. And, the ever-popluar Matthew Bourne's New Adventures Company take up residency at Christmas 2012/13 with its production of the classic ballet Sleeping Beauty.
Below: Rambert Dance Company's Labyrinth of Love (2012)

From its humble beginnings in the 17th century, Sadler's Wells continues to entertain and educate, innovate and inspire new generations of audiences and performers alike. The future is truly 'all singing and dancing' for Islington-based Sadler's Wells Theatre - London's Dance House.