As a dancer at your level of your professional career, what has it been like to bring such an iconic story like “Peaky Blinders” to life through dance, and how does this experience differ from more traditional ballet or contemporary performances?

As a dancer, it has been quite special; from the first moment in the studio where we didn’t know what to expect, to our current return tour across the UK.

On a personal level, I am a fan of the TV Show and was always enamoured by Polly. She was my favourite character so to be able to bring her to the stage, and find out how she moves, has been very interesting. Sometimes I am completely embodied by her as a character because she is so powerful. This can be quite physically demanding, but I do really enjoy dancing in her role.

With Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, the big difference in comparison to contemporary performances is that we had to learn so many new skills. From acting to dancing, fighting to performing in heels and with props such as carousel horses. The set is like nothing I have danced on before so it’s been a whole new world to learn about.

The difference also come in the audiences. I love that people get dressed up in full Peaky gear. It’s amazing and I love it!

Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby weaves together dance, drama, and a live band with a powerful soundtrack. How has performing alongside live music and the intense energy of the Peaky tracks influenced your performance on stage?

To have Yaron (drums), Mitch (singer, piano, guitar) and Joe (bass and cello) on stage with us is amazing, as we riff on each other’s energy. Dancers are fuelled by the music they are performing to so it energises us in that way.

Sometimes I just want to stop and turn around to watch and listen to the band as it’s like being at a rock concert. It can be angry, loud and soft so it feels very Rock n Roll in that way for me.

The story explores complex emotions, from Tommy’s personal battles to heartache and revenge. How do you approach expressing such deep and layered emotions through your movements as a dancer?

There are indeed lots of layers of emotion in the show – from love, heartache, family love, family feuds, power, grief and loss.

The choreography that Benoit Swan Pouffer (Rambert’s Artistic Director and the Choreographer / Director for Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby) has created is great, and the Acting Coaching we received helped us to further convey the emotions and the storyline through the dance and movement.

The music helps us to find the various states of mind as well.

Working under the direction of Benoit Swan Pouffer and bringing Steven Knight’s vision to life must be an exciting challenge. What has been the most rewarding part of collaborating with such a talented creative team on this production?

The show as a whole has been extremely rewarding. It may sound cheesy but getting to work with both Benoit and Steven, and the full creative team, has been very empowering and liberating because we have learnt so many new skills. I think it has allowed me to learn a lot about myself as a performer and a person.

Our work and collaboration is what makes the show, so it’s rewarding when it all comes to together to form the performance. It’s also very rewarding getting to play Polly and embody such a strong female character on stage.

What’s more? The audiences are fantastic. They aren’t solely dance audiences but they may be Peaky fans too, so it’s great to meet people who may not have connected with theatre beforehand.

For many fans of “Peaky Blinders,” this adaptation offers new insights and plot details never shown on screen. How do you think the dance production adds to the Peaky Blinders story, and what do you hope audiences take away from seeing this unique adaptation?

I think it adds more layers. I always find when I have watched a TV series or read a book I find myself wondering what happens next, or what would happen if that option was available.

I think this offers some of that to the audience, and I hope they enjoy our show and being brought into the world we have created.