Honoured to have been commissioned for the marketing and publicity materials for Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia, A Rock Ballet will make its New York stage debut in November 2025.
Working closely with the publicist, Watermelon PR, the original creators, Sadler’s Wells, and the producers, Piranha handled all digital and print collateral including: web banners, direct mailers, 3-sheet posters, digital billboards (in Times Square), digital ads, VIP invitations, Playbill theatre program, step and repeat boards, poster frame graphics, cast posters, theatre lobby screen graphics and more.
Plus customer merch: tshirts, tote bags and magnets.
In 1973, guitar smashing rock genius Pete Townshend wrote QUADROPHENIA. Recorded by THE WHO, it quickly became an iconic and multi-million selling album. Quadrophenia defined a generation and in 1979 inspired the cult classic feature film of the same name. Now it’s back – this time as an explosive dance production – with a large cast of exceptional dancers, introducing new audiences to troubled mod Jimmy’s story while remaining true in spirit to the much-loved original.
Townshend said, “QUADROPHENIA is the only Who album that I solely composed and produced, and the movie that followed in 1979 launched the careers of some of the finest young actors of the time. In 2016 Rachel Fuller agreed to create an orchestral score of the album. When I first heard a demo of this version, without vocals, my first thought was that it would make a powerfully rhythmic and emotionally engaging ballet.
Workshopped in 2023, that thought became a reality and I knew we had something that would resonate with new audiences, and also bring joy, as it had in its other iterations for decades. The themes of young people growing up in difficult times are still so relevant. It’s going to be poignant, tender and poetic and epic.”
Rising star Paris Fitzpatrick will perform the iconic lead role of Jimmy. Fitzpatrick won Outstanding Male Modern Performance for his Romeo in New Adventures’ production of Romeo and Juliet at the National Dance Awards in June 2024.
Choreographed by Paul Roberts and directed by Rob Ashford, this critically acclaimed production of Quadrophenia, A Rock Ballet arrives in New York City from a sold-out run of performances at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London and a UK tour. A rich, orchestral version of the album by Rachel Fuller, recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, is the backdrop for this adrenaline-filled rollercoaster ride. The production is costumed by British fashion house Paul Smith.
Praise for Quadrophenia:
★★★★ “a razor-sharp reboot of The Who’s rock opera” – The Guardian
★★★★ “somersaulting dynamism” – The Stage
★★★★ “bold, sexy, fun, and thought-provoking” – Theatre Plays
★★★★ “a compelling night of dance theatre… you can’t look away.” – London Standard