That’s a lots of Manons – 8 casts, 15 performances and a sold-out notice guaranteed

The Royal Ballet's signature ballet Manon returns next week for a 15 show run.

That's a lot for a narrative ballet that doesn't possess a Tchaikovsky score! But it is the casting that astounds – just everyone wants to take a shot at the doomed couple. The Manons with their respective Des Grieuxs are:

Laura Morera & Federico Bonelli

Tamara Rojo & Carlos Acosta

Alina Cojocaru & Johan Kobborg

Mara Galeazzi & David Makhateli

Roberta Marquez & Steven McRae

Leanne Benjamin & Steven McRae (who seems to have replaced Edward Watson)

Sarah Lamb & Rupert Pennefather

Marianela Nuñez & Nehemiah Kish

Sarah Lamb, Rupert Pennefather, Marianela Nuñez, Nehemiah Kish and Steven McRae are all newcomers to MacMillan's ballet.

On the right are four Manons and partners:

from top Alina Cojocaru & Johan Kobborg, Roberta Marquez with Ivan Putrov (in these performances Marquez will dance with Steven McRae, his début in the role), Mara Galeazzi & David Makhateli, and Tamara Rojo & Carlos Acosta.

Performances run from April 21 to June 4 at the Royal Opera House

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.