![Eastern Daily Press: Ashton Hall will be performing in Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet. Photo: SUPPLIED BY ASHTON HALL]( "Eastern Daily Press: Ashton Hall will be performing in Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet. Photo: SUPPLIED BY ASHTON HALL")
Ashton Hall will be performing in Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet. Photo: SUPPLIED BY ASHTON HALL (Image: Archant)
Ashton Hall, of Dereham, will be taking to the stage in successful director and choreographer Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London.
The world premiere production will see the 20-year-old perform alongside some of the UK's finest emerging talent as part of professional company New Adventures.
Ashton, who was also part of the Lord of the Flies Young Cast in 2014 at Norwich Theatre Royal, said: "Working for New Adventures has always been a dream of mine, and after performing in Lord of the Flies, I've made it my ambition to work with this company during what will hopefully be a lengthy career.
"Just by auditioning for this role it allowed me to become that one step closer to making what was once a dream, a reality."
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
His love of dancing began at an early age. He described having a "strange fascination with how the body moves and the shapes its able to make". A fan of Michael Jackson, he would copy the singer's iconic moves before eventually joining a small group in Shipham called Dance Unleashed.
"For a long time, I've wanted to make dancing my career path.
"There are a lower number of opportunities for dancers in Norfolk so it's really nice for me to act almost as an ambassador for dance in the county, and for male dancers too."
A former pupil at Northgate High, he received the school's Dereham Lyons Award for Services to Dance in the community during Year 10. He then studied for a Level 3 Diploma in Performing Arts at City College Norwich and was awarded a Level 4 Distinction.
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
He added: "This course is run by Hannah Ashmore and Natalie Cross, and I am thankful to them for pushing, and helping develop me, over the years I was there."
During his time at college, Ashton was a company member in the National Youth Dance Company and worked with world renowned choreographer, Damien Jalet. He has also trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Ashton will be performing in the four-week summer season of Romeo and Juliet from August 7 - 18 and starts rehearsals this week.
The show will be touring around the UK, and will feature at 13 venues including Norwich Theatre Royal from September 3 - 7.
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
Speaking about the show, Matthew Bourne said: "Romeo and Juliet will be a celebration of youthful energy, talent and creativity both on and off-stage."
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
![Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/]( "Eastern Daily Press: ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/")
ROMEO AND JULIET by Bourne, , Director and Choreographer - Matthew Bourne, Designer - Let Brotherston, Lighting - Paule Constable, Rehearsal Images, Three Mills, London, 2019, Credit: Johan Persson/ (Image: Johan Persson)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here