The Winter's Tale Live from the Royal Opera House

Ballet  |  Seated

The Winter's Tale Live from the Royal Opera House

Running time: The performance lasts about 3 hours, including two intervals


The story

King Leontes, possessed by a mad jealousy, believes his pregnant wife Hermione to be having an affair with his childhood friend King Polixenes. His actions tear their families apart.
Hermione’s baby daughter is abandoned and Hermione and their son die of distress. The baby Perdita, rescued by a shepherd, grows up to fall in love with Florizel, son of Polixenes. The young couple is reunited with the remorseful Leontes and Hermione returns from the dead.

Background

Christopher Wheeldon, Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet, created his adaptation of Shakespeare’s late great romance The Winter’s Tale for The Royal Ballet in 2014. Building on the success of Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Winter’s Tale received ecstatic praise at its premiere, acclaimed by critics and audiences alike for its intelligent, distinctive and emotionally powerful story, told through exquisite dance. It is now widely judged to be a modern ballet classic.
The story follows the destruction of a marriage through consuming jealousy, the abandonment of a child and a seemingly hopeless love. Yet, through remorse and regret – and after a seemingly miraculous return to life – the ending is one of forgiveness and reconciliation. With powerful designs by Bob Crowley and atmospheric music by Joby Talbot, The Winter’s Tale is a masterful modern narrative ballet.

Credits

Choreography
Christopher Wheeldon

Scenario
Christopher Wheeldon and Joby Talbot

Music
Joby Talbot

Designer
Bob Crowley

Lighting designer
Natasha Katz

Projection designer
Daniel Brodie

Silk effects designer
Basil Twist
Performers
Conductor
Alondra de la Parra
Hermione
Lauren Cuthbertson
Leontes
Edward Watson
Perdita
Sarah Lamb
Florizel
Steven McRae
Paulina
Laura Morera
Polixenes
Matthew Ball
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House