Two ballet dancers pose gracefully against a colorful, blurred background, with the female dancer in a gold dress and the male dancer in black attire.

A male ballet dancer leaps mid-air on stage while other dancers and a person in a Roman-style helmet watch in the background, with colorful lighting and mist.

A ballerina in a colorful costume performs an arabesque pose on a metal scaffolding under theatrical stage lighting and backdrop.

Scottish Ballet

Starstruck

Thu 7 - Sat 9 May 2026

Venue: Festival Theatre

Prepare to be transported into a glamorous world where jazz meets ballet, and the stars align!

Gene Kelly’s love letter to ballet

Gene Kelly’s multifaceted brilliance as an entertainer has delighted generations of movie-lovers, and his pioneering choreography has influenced generations of dance-makers. Scottish Ballet honour his creative legacy with Starstruck, returning to the stage in 2026 – enhanced and extended.

In collaboration with Gene Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, Scottish Ballet lovingly revived the original ballet in 2021, adding a delightful new twist, and wowing audiences and critics alike.

In this new two-act Starstruck, CEO/Artistic Director, Christopher Hampson CBE, builds on a love story that mirrors the worlds of gods and mortals, juxtaposing the romantic tensions between a Star Ballerina and a Choreographer, and their mythological counterparts, Aphrodite and Zeus.

From Olympus to Hollywood and Paris, dancers, screen legends and Greek gods are starstruck by love as mythology meets backstage drama, with the sparkling Jazz Age music of George Gershwin and Maurice Ravel performed by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.

"A feel good triumph"
The Stage
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Heavenly"
The Telegraph
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"Sexy and modern"
The Herald
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Two ballet dancers perform a lift center stage, surrounded by watching performers and stage fog, with a colorful backdrop and industrial set design.

A group of dancers in costumes rehearse on a stage with colorful, industrial-style scenery and dramatic lighting.

Two ballet dancers perform on stage under dramatic lighting, while two other people observe from the side and above on a metal scaffolding.

Five ballet dancers perform a synchronized leap on stage, wearing leotards and pointe shoes, with a backdrop featuring clouds and a clothing rack in the background.

A performer in a leotard poses atop a metal ladder structure on a stage with colorful lighting and a cloudy backdrop; another person sits in the background.

Two ballet dancers perform on stage; one lifts the other who holds an umbrella. Coats hang on racks in the background, with a painted sky and landscape set.

A male dancer in a navy shirt and black pants performs a pose on stage, one arm raised, in front of mirrors and metal paneling.

Two dancers perform an embrace on stage under spotlights, with a table, two chairs, and a glass in the background.

A dancer leaps mid-air with arms and legs extended while five other dancers watch on stage in a rehearsal studio setting.

Two ballet dancers perform an acrobatic lift on stage, with blue lighting, starry backdrop, and another performer on a platform above them.

Performance details

Show times: Evenings; 7.30pm; Matinee; 2.30pm
Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes, including interval

Discounts

Friends 20% off – Read more about the Friends discount

Concessions £3 off. (excl. Fri & Sat)

Accessibility information

We believe theatre is for everyone, and we want your visit to be as easy and enjoyable as possible.

If you’d like advice when booking or planning your trip, please contact our box office team for further assistance.

You can find detailed access information for the Festival Theatre below.

More access information

Show related events

Talk Ballet (Pre Show Talk): Fri 8 May, 6.30pm
Join the Scottish Ballet Artistic Team as they share insights from behind the scenes of their production of Starstruck focusing on the creation of the show, the choreography, and the music.
Find out more and book your place.

Post Show Talk: Fri 8 May
Simply stay in your seat after the performance for an insightful discussion between CEO/Artistic Director Christopher Hampson and some of the Scottish Ballet dancers.