PREVIEW: The Brown Suite at Darlington Hippodrome

STEP INTO THE SUITE AT DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

The Brown Suite, 

Darlington Hippodrome

Tuesday 10 November 2026

Darlington Hippodrome is set to get the whole house moving this November, as The Brown Suite rolls into town on the first leg of its UK tour.

BlacBrik founders and choreographers of The Brown Suite Nahum McLean and Darius Drooh said: “With The Brown Suite, we want to explore the spaces where music, movement and community came together in 1970s New York—where soul and funk brought people together, and where every gathering held stories of joy, connection and change.

“As the story unfolds, we explore the relationships that shape a community, the moments that bring people closer, and the tensions that can shift those connections. We’re so excited to tour this work across the UK and share its warmth, energy and drama with audiences. More than anything, we want people to feel the music in their bodies and maybe even dance their way home.”

Created by dance duo BlacBrik, Nahum McLean and Darius Drooh, who met training at the Alvin Ailey School in New York back in 2013 before forming the company a decade later, the show is a high-energy tribute to the music of James Brown, Etta James and Sam Cooke. It's produced by Fundamentally Dance, the team behind the acclaimed Ballet Nights, with Jamiel Devernay-Laurence as creative producer.

Seven dancers carry the piece, which blends the precision of ballet and modern dance with the swagger and groove of funk and jazz. Full-company numbers give way to intimate duets as the story tracks a community through flirtation, romance, heartbreak and reconciliation, all set against the backdrop of 1970s New York nightlife.

Alongside the tour, the team has worked with Wolverhampton Grand Theatre's Creative Engagement Manager Tristan Jones-Smith on an education pack for schools, linking the show to Drama, Dance and English curricula through devising, performance and creative writing exercises.

The Brown Suite kicks off its 12-venue UK tour with a London premiere at Richmond Theatre before arriving in Darlington.

Tickets: www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk Box Office: 01325 405405