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History

March 2011

On March 14 a double-CD of the music from the ballet The Most Incredible Thing is released under the name Tennant/Lowe. It contains the full performance score of the ballet with orchestrations by Sven Helbig.

2011 March

On March 17 the ballet The Most Incredible Thing has its first public performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. Its genesis can be traced back to a week in where, by chance, two initially unrelated events took place. Ivan Putrov, a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet whom the Pet Shop Boys had got to know through Sam Taylor-Wood, called Neil to ask whether they would write a piece for him to dance to. Two days later, before Neil had even had a chance to ask Chris, Chris called to say that he’d just read a story in a new translation of Hans Christian Andersen’s tales that he thought would make a great ballet: “The Most Incredible Thing”. This eventually led to the Sadler’s Wells production, choreographed by Javier de Frutos and starring Ivan Putrov, Clemmie Sveaas and Aaron Sillis. All ten performances sell out.

May 2011

On May 27 the Pet Shop Boys appear at the Sunderland Stadium of Light, joining Take That at their invitation as “special guests” on their first reunion concerts as a five-piece on what will be the biggest British tour ever – 29 British stadium shows – followed by a short European leg. “45 minutes of intensity,” says Chris.

December 2011

On December 31 the Pet Shop Boys appear at a New Year’s Eve concert on an island in Sydney Harbour.

History

On this day

1991

‘How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?’ debuts on the U.S. singles chart, where it will peak at #93.

1992

The Pet Shop Boys are profiled on the British television series The South Bank Show.

2006

Neil presents Madonna with the award for ‘Best International Female Artist’ at this year’s BRITS Awards.

2010

The recent PSB ‘living room gig’ sponsored by Mastercard airs this evening during the BRITS Awards telecast and also debuts online.

2011

The Boys start writing a new song titled ‘Heads Will Roll.’

2012

Chris and Neil are still in Los Angeles, having been there now for more than a month working on their next album. Today, as they listen to playbacks of music they’ve recently recorded, they enjoy watching Elizabeth Taylor’s 1963 film Cleopatra on a television in the studio. Neil also records additional vocals for ‘Memory of the Future.’ On this same day, a ‘Singbox’ app featuring music of the Pet Shop Boys is released for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. It permits users to sing along, karaoke-like, to tracks and to compete with other users.

2016

The new PSB single ‘The Pop Kids’ has its official world premiere today on Ken Bruce’s BBC Radio 2 show. It also becomes available on iTunes to those who have pre-ordered the still-unreleased new album Super. Meanwhile, Chris and Neil are in the studio completing work on a track titled ‘The White Dress.’

2023

Neil and Chris attend a performance of the new musical ‘Standing at the Sky’s Edge’ at London’s National Theatre. (The following day they note on their website that the show’s choreography is by Lynne Page, with whom they’ve worked on some of their own stage shows and videos.)