It comes promised as “the greatest romantic ballet of all time” – and Bayley Webster would certainly agree as Varna International Ballet bring their production of Swan Lake to Portsmouth’s Kings Theatre on February 15 at 2pm and 5.30pm.

From the splendour of the Palace ballroom to the moon-lit lake where swans glide in perfect formation, it offers a tale of tragic romance which has it all: from Odile, the temptress in black tulle as she seduces the Prince by spinning with captivating precision to the spellbound purity of the swan queen, Odette as she flutters with emotional intensity.

Navigating it all is Bayley as Prince Sigfried: “It is one of the most engaging love stories. You’ve also got Romeo & Juliet which is a fairly wild love story but in terms of the emotions you have got so much in Swan Lake. With Prince Sigfried you have got the definition between the Black Swan and the White Swan but there is also this hatred with himself. He knows what he wants but the Queen, his mother, adds a small pinch of anger.

“And I think it is also the intensity of the role. He goes right the way through. He is there from the moment the curtains open and he is the last person on the stage. Plus it's very varied with the ballet. It takes a lot of strength to perform all the difficult lifts. We are very lucky to have a physio on tour with us, and she is incredible. I've been seeing her over the last three days with a little bit of pain in my calf. I really appreciate that rather than just turning up in a city and having to find a physiotherapist. It's great and we really need it.”

placeholder image — Bayley Webster (contributed pic)

Also crucial is the discipline: “I really have to divide my work life and my personal life. When I'm working, I'm really focused to make sure that I am absolutely ready. You have to.

“I first started dancing when I was six years old. I'm originally from Devon and my sister used to go to these ballet and jazz classes on a Saturday morning. I used to sit outside the dance studio, and after a while they just said would I like to come in. And I said ‘No, thank you. I play football! I don't need to do anything in ballet!’ But after a few weeks I was just so tired of sitting outside. I went in and I just observed the class and then the next week they asked me if I'd like to sit in again and I said no, that I'd actually like to try it and I did.”

Bayley’s fascination grew from there, loving the progress that he made as he learnt to do the big jumps and the pirouettes, as he learnt how to move and how to hold himself – and as he learnt just what ballet might become for him.

“With football and all the other activities I did, like athletics, they were really gruelling and demanding but there was just something about ballet that took my heart. I found that I couldn't imagine myself doing anything other than ballet.”

Bayley was born in Northam in 2000. He graduated from The School of Ballet Theatre UK in 2019 from where he joined the associated company Ballet Theatre UK. He danced various roles over three seasons including Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet, Beast in Beauty and the Beast and Prince in Paquita among other roles. He has performed with various companies in countries around the world. Bayley joined Varna State Ballet in 2023. He has toured with the company in Mexico, France, Italy and Bulgaria.