Congratulations alumnus Lachlan Monaghan, a new Principal of Birmingham Royal Ballet

One thing that will make our day every time is seeing our alumni achieve incredible things.

Lachlan Monaghan was performing as Siegfried in Swan Lake at Birmingham Hippodrome last Thursday 16 February, and after the performance, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB), Carlos Acosta, announced to the audience, the Company and Lachlan himself that he will be promoted to Principal dancer from the start of the 2023/24 season.

After being promoted alongside Company peer Max Maslen, BRB remarked, ‘Rounds of applause from the auditorium, the stage and the wings showed everyone’s delight that these two talented and popular members of the Company were being promoted and celebrated in such a wonderful, public way.’

Lachlan was born in Sydney, Australia and trained locally at The McDonald College. He joined the School after being awarded the Outright Winner of the Sydney Eisteddfod Ballet Scholarship in 2009 and the next year, he went on to win bronze medal at Genée International Ballet Competition.

While he was still a student, he performed with The Royal Ballet in Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet and Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Lachlan joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2012, was promoted to First Artist in 2016, Soloist in 2018 and First Soloist in 2022.

He has danced a varied and impressive repertory, including roles in Swan Lake (Prince Siegfried), The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Florimund, Bluebird), La Fille mal Gardée (Colas), Hobson’s Choice (Will Mossop), Coppélia (Franz), Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (Hoofer), Elite Syncopations (Friday Night), Giselle (Hilarion), In The Upper Room (Stomper), The Nutcracker (Prince), and a created role as Neptune in David Bintley’s The Tempest. He said his most rewarding role was as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet – ‘living his incredible story and then having Romeo squeeze your lifeless body after your death is heart-wrenching and unforgettable.’

A truly well-rounded artist, he is also a keen photographer, pianist, and tap dancer. We couldn’t be more thrilled for him in this brilliant achievement.

Image credit: @dancers_eye

To see Lachlan in action, book your Swan Lake tickets, today