The Who's iconic rock opera Quadrophenia is set to make its debut as a ballet production in the UK next year.

Sadler's Wells Theatre in Islington, London and Universal Music UK have confirmed the world premiere of Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet, which will feature dancers bringing to life the story of troubled mod Jimmy - which was originally chronicled in the 1973 album and subsequently transposed to the screen in the 1979 cult classic, starring Phil Daniels and Sting.

The ballet is set to tour Plymouth, Edinburgh and Southhampton before its official opening at Sadler's Wells on 24 June 2025.

When the Who's Pete Townshend wrote Quadrophenia in the early '70s, he wanted to release a record that would reconnect the band with its mod fanbase, who had drifted away from the group and became obsessed with soul music, sharp fashion and scooters.

“I wanted to remind the band where we came from; we came from west London and the mods were our people,” says Townshend, who believes that there are echoes in 2024 of the mid-'60s, when mod culture emerged as a rejection of conservative British norms.

“British pop music had this function, which was to tell the audience that there was a possibility of a new world. A new time,” Townshend continues. “Because the old time from about ’64 onwards was just worn out. What we have now is the same boring old shit that was going on in 1964; politicians that don’t seem to understand their own people.”

Quadrophenia was an ambitious undertaking, even for the Who, an ambitious band in their own right. The double album follows Jimmy, a mod, who becomes disillusioned and embarks on a journey that involves getting a job as a "dustman", "attempts to propagate communism", moving to Brighton and "taking a lot of drugs".

The Who emerged in the 1960s and - with an original line-up of the drummer Keith Moon, John Entwhistle on bass, Townshend on guitar and Roger Daltrey as vocalist - became one of the iconic British guitar bands, going on to global success.

Moon died aged 32, while Entwhistle died shortly before an American tour with the Who in 2002.

“We started as a band of four boys, a drummer, a bass player, a guitarist and a singer, and two of us have died. So we’re left with the guitar player and the singer trying, in a sense, to revive and honour the music that we wrote when there were four of us. It’s tricky,” Townshend said explaining why he calls the Who “a brand”.

“We can honour it and celebrate it, but whether we can actually do it is another story.”

Quadrophenia will have its unofficial opening night on 28 May 2025 before its official opening at Sadler's Wells on 24 June 2025 and a UK tour. See here for tickets.