Gary Avis in conversation at charity event at Theatre Royal

Gary Avis, the leading dance actor with an international career stretching over four decades, is to take to the stage of the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds for an evening of conversation.

The Royal Ballet principal character artist and senior ballet master is coming to the theatre next month to talk to Suffolk author and broadcaster, Christine Webber, for an in-depth look at his spectacular career in ballet and more.

This special evening will take the audience on a journey of Gary’s life and career from the very beginning as an Ipswich boy aged 12 taking inspiration from Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire and following his unique journey to the very top of the world of ballet, two National Critics Circle Dance Awards and a very special honour from The Queen.

The theatre’s artistic director Owen Calvert-Lyons said: “We are honoured to have an artist of the calibre of Gary Avis on our stage taking us on a journey through his amazing career. His stories and experiences will not only be fascinating to hear but will inspire young and aspiring artists to carve out their own path to success just as Gary has done.”

Creating roles for the finest choreographers including  Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Christopher Wheeldon and Wayne McGregor and dancing with many of the world’s greatest ballerinas including Dame Darcey Bussell, Sylvie Guillem, Alessandra Ferri and Marianela Nunez his journey will be charted from The Royal Ballet Company’s corps de ballet to his performances of many of leading roles in the Royal Ballet repertoire.

The evening will include film clips and imagery and in-depth lively and frank discussion of Gary’s experience as a dancer taking to the stages of many of the greatest theatres and opera houses around the globe. There will also be tales of adventures with Darcey on “Strictly Come Dancing”, launching cruise ships and what it felt like to dance in front of an audience of millions at “The Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.”

The fundraising event for the Theatre Royal will take place at 7.30pm on Sunday, June 27. Tickets are on sale now at www.theatreroyal.org