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Costumes, Shoes and so Much More: Britain's Royal Ballet Packs for Its Asian Tour
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 1, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 1, 2026
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Britain’s Royal Ballet is finalizing preparations for its 2026 Asian tour, packing over 2,000 costume pieces and shipping sets amid global shipping disruptions caused by Middle East conflicts.
Britain’s Royal Ballet Prepares Costumes and Logistics for 2026 Asian Tour
Royal Ballet's 2026 Asian Tour: Preparations and Challenges
Costume Preparation and Logistics
LONDON, April 1 (Reuters) - Surrounded by rails of costumes and boxes of headpieces at London's Royal Opera House, Adrian Villasenor inspects some of the items to be worn during the Royal Ballet's 2026 tour of Singapore and Tokyo.
“Altogether there might be over 2,000 pieces of costumes," Costume Performance Senior Manager Villasenor said. "It's all (going on) the road.”
Touring Team and Performances
From dancers to physiotherapists and the rest of the backstage team, some 150 people will travel from London to Asia for the June 26 - July 12 tour, which will include performances of the romantic "Giselle" and the comic "La Fille mal gardee".
Planning and Venue Considerations
The Royal Ballet decided in 2023 what to perform. Teams have since been busy with all aspects of the tour, including studying venue space and how that might affect choreography.
Global Events Impacting Logistics
WORLD EVENTS ADD COMPLEXITY
Packing and sending off the costumes are among the final stages of preparation and the task has now been made more complex as war in the Middle East has reshaped global shipping routes and detours around Africa extend voyage times.
Adapting to Changing Circumstances
“We also have to think about the events that's going on in the world today. So of course, what's going on in Iran, of course what's been going on with Russia... and suddenly today we got told we have to get the boxes, which has the dancers' makeup and some practice clothes, they need to be packed and on a ship this week," Kevin O'Hare, director of the Royal Ballet, said.
"So suddenly you have to do that... and that's more for the dancers to have to get everything together."
Shipping and Audience Experience
While sets and "Giselle" costumes are being shipped, "La Fille mal gardee" outfits will be flown to Tokyo after the production's May 23-June 9 run. "Giselle" concluded its London performances on March 20.
"We really want people to experience in Tokyo or Singapore what they would experience here in London," O'Hare said.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Key Takeaways
- •The Royal Ballet’s June 26–July 12 tour to Singapore and Tokyo involves shipping thousands of costume items and set pieces, with some costumes flown for efficiency.
- •The Middle East conflict has disrupted key sea and air freight routes—striking through the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea—forcing rerouting via longer, costlier routes like around Africa.
- •Rising insurance premiums, congestion at alternative hubs, and reduced air cargo capacity are heightening logistical complexity and costs for the tour’s wardrobe and equipment shipments.
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Costumes, shoes and so much more: Britain's Royal Ballet packs for its Asian tour
1How many costumes is the Royal Ballet packing for the 2026 Asian tour?
The Royal Ballet is packing over 2,000 costume pieces for its Asian tour in Singapore and Tokyo.
2What are the main performances during the Royal Ballet's Asian tour?
The main performances are the romantic 'Giselle' and the comic 'La Fille mal gardee'.
3How have world events affected the Royal Ballet's tour logistics?
World events such as war in the Middle East have disrupted shipping routes, making packing and transportation more complex and time-sensitive.
4How many people are traveling with the Royal Ballet on this tour?
Approximately 150 people, including dancers, physiotherapists, and backstage teams, will travel from London for the tour.
5Will audiences in Tokyo and Singapore experience the same production as in London?
Yes, the Royal Ballet aims for audiences in Tokyo and Singapore to experience what they would in London.
