Yasemin Kayabay: Don Quixote Tour Diaries

Join BRB2 Artist Yasemin Kayabay as she spends a week on tour in Salford performing Don Quixote.

Wednesday 4 March 2026

When we arrived in Salford, we had the evening off, so I went into Manchester with some of my friends from the Company. It was lovely – we spent some time exploring the city and had dinner together before heading back to the hotel. It was nice to relax and have an early night, ready for the busy days ahead.

Thursday 5 March 2026

The next day began with morning class in a studio at the Lowry theatre (where we would be performing), the large windows overlooking a beautiful scene of the river. Class was followed by a general rehearsal of Don Quixote, so that we could get used to the stage and the Principal cast members who hadn’t yet performed could run through the ballet.

In between the rehearsal and the evening show, I went with the girls for a walk, grabbed some coffee, and sat by the river. Salford is such a lovely place with so much open space, and the sun was shining, so it was the perfect spot to relax, chat, and enjoy a quiet moment before the performance.

Then we returned to the theatre to prepare for the show. I feel very happy and grateful to be performing so many different roles in Don Quixote, including Seguidilla, Small Dryads, Dryads, Gypsies, Fandango, and several character roles. It makes the experience incredibly fun and varied as a dancer. Overall, it’s such an enjoyable ballet to perform and a wonderful tour to be part of.

Friday 6 March 2026

The following day, my mum and sister arrived to visit. We had a slightly later start, which was perfect because it meant I could have breakfast and spend the morning with them.

After class, I had a few rehearsals before heading to the Trafford Centre in Manchester with them for a bit of shopping and dinner together. I then returned to the theatre to prepare for our second performance of Don Quixote in Salford.

My mum and sister watched the show, which made the evening very special. It’s always lovely knowing they’re in the audience, and I was even able to spot them during the performance. It was such a nice moment to make eye contact with them from the stage.

Saturday 7 March 2026

On the final day, we had to wake up a little earlier to check out of the hotel. That morning we had class on stage at the theatre, with an audience watching. I really enjoyed that, as I love taking class and it’s nice sometimes to share that part of a dancer’s day with an audience.

It was also a double-show day, with both a matinee and an evening performance. It was a very busy day, and there wasn’t much time between shows – just enough to grab some food, rest, and refuel before the final performance.

After the last show, we packed up and travelled back home to Birmingham.

Although it was a relatively short tour, it was full of wonderful moments and performances. It was a busy but incredibly enjoyable few days.