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
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
