Anton Du Beke will join Ballet Shoes at Liverpool Empire for five nights, giving the Strictly Come Dancing judge his latest stage role in January 2028. The run begins on January 11 and ends on January 15, with Du Beke playing Great Uncle Matthew and Fidolia.
National Theatre and Liverpool Empire
The National Theatre’s production of Ballet Shoes is a reimagining of Noel Streatfeild’s novel, following three adopted sisters named Pauline, Petrova and Posy. For Liverpool audiences, the five-night engagement keeps the production tightly scheduled: January 11, 2028, to January 15, 2028.
Du Beke said, “I took my family to see Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre, and I completely fell in love with the show.” He added, “It was such a beautiful, joyful production, and when I was given the opportunity to be part of it, I jumped at the chance. I couldn’t wait to step into that world and be a part of the magic.”
Great Uncle Matthew and Fidolia
Du Beke’s role gives the production a familiar television name in a stage part that sits inside the world of the story rather than outside it. He also said, “It gives me an exciting opportunity to test myself further as an actor – and dance and family are at the core, the two most important things to me.”
That combination matters because Ballet Shoes is built around family, ambition and self-discovery, while also presenting a world that was not built for women with big ambitions. Du Beke’s casting fits that balance: a limited Liverpool run, a well-known performer, and a production that asks an audience to look at the story’s emotional stakes rather than just its title.
Tickets for Ballet Shoes
Tickets for Ballet Shoes are available now through ATG Tickets, and the Liverpool Empire dates are fixed. Anyone planning to see Du Beke in Great Uncle Matthew and Fidolia has a narrow window: the show opens on January 11 and finishes on January 15, 2028.
