TOKYO The National Ballet of Japan (NBJ) opens its 2026/2027 season on 23 October (on stage until 1 November) with the world premiere of City Lights, a brand-new commissioned ballet based on Charles Chaplin’s classic comedy film and immortal masterpiece.

Choreographed by English choreographer Alastair Marriott - who previously collaborated with the NBJ on Miyako Yoshida's production of  Giselle - this groundbreaking work reimagines Chaplin's silent drama on the ballet stage, vividly bringing to life his signature humor and delicate humanity through the transcendent physical expression of classical ballet.

City Lights also marked Chaplin's first-ever original film score, composed for his 1931 silent film accompanied only by music and sound. For this production, the score has been newly adapted for live orchestral performance by Timothy Brock who leads the Tokyo Philharmonic.

The core of City Lights is the Tramp—Chaplin’s iconic, gentle wanderer— who stumbles through life with a mix of awkwardness, dignity, and unshakeable hope. In this story, he encounters a blind flower girl who mistakes him for a wealthy gentleman. Moved by her kindness and fragility,he becomes determined to help her, not out of vanity, but out of a deep and selfless love.At the same time, the Tramp befriends a millionaire after saving his life, however the millionaire only recognises the Tramp when drunk, creating a bittersweet cycle of generosity followed by cold rejection. Through these encounters, the Tramp explores the contrasts between wealth and poverty, illusion and reality, and the quiet heroism of those who give more than they have.The Tramp’s mission becomes raising enough money to stop the eviction of the blind flower girl and her grandmother and to restore the girl’s sight leading to both comedic misadventures and moments of profound sacrifice including taking a job as a road sweeper and an amateur boxer. By the ballet’s end—after hardship, the Tramp’s imprisonment, and heartbreak—the girl regains her vision. When she finally sees the Tramp as he truly is, the recognition between them is gentle, uncertain, and achingly human.Set in a city poised between the last sparkle of the Roaring Twenties and the emerging Great Depression, City Lights is a story of love that transcends appearances, kindness that survives humiliation, and hope that endures even when life is at its hardest. City Lights is not just a comedy; it is a timeless story of compassion.

A distinguished creative team - including award-winning set and costume designer Dick Bird and lighting designer Ellen Ruge - brilliantly brings the world of City Lights to life. They are joined by a dynamic and versatile cast, ranging from celebrated principal dancers to rising stars of the National Ballet of Japan making their full-length debut.

The National Ballet of Japan (NBJ), the first resident ballet company in Japan, launched in conjunction with the opening of the New National Theatre, Tokyo in 1997. The NBJ’s repertoire is broad in scope, embracing classics such as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker; 20th century works by choreographers such as Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Roland Petit and Kenneth MacMillan; as well as works by contemporary choreographers. The NBJ also commissions world-class choreographers to create original pieces for its repertoire. The NBJ enjoys a high reputation internationally. Following performances at prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center and Bolshoi Theatre, the company drew acclaim for its July 2025 production of Giselle at the Royal Opera House, earning 5-star reviews. This success led to a historic win at the 26th National Dance Awards, becoming the first Japanese company to receive the Stef Stefanou Award for Outstanding Company. From the 2020/2021 season, under the leadership of Miyako Yoshida, who was active in the United Kingdom for many years as principal dancer of two greatest companies, The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet, the National Ballet of Japan continues to progress and promote ballet as one of Japan's leading ballet companies.

© All rights reserved