Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon returns to The Royal Ballet for its 50th Anniversary
17 January – 8 March 2024
Live in cinemas: Wednesday 7 February 2024
The Royal Ballet presents Kenneth MacMillan‘s Manon, 50 years since the production’s 1974 premiere, and 100 years since the birth of its designer Nicholas Georgiadis.
Adapted from Abbé Prévost’s novel Manon Lescaut, Manon embodies Kenneth MacMillan at his best, “his acute insight into human psychology and his mastery of narrative choreography finding full expression in the impassioned duets of the central couple, visceral and urgent in their desire”.
The work is one of the most dramatic and devastating ballets in the repertory with music by Jules Massenet, and lighting by Jacopo Pantani.
The production’s premiere, which received a standing ovation, was danced by Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell in the lead roles. This revival now offers a new generation of dancers the chance to take on some of ballet’s most beloved roles and debuts include Yasmine Naghdi and Fumi Kaneko as Manon, and Marcelino Sambé, William Bracewell and Calvin Richardson as Lescaut.
The production will be broadcast live to cinemas across the world on Wednesday 7 February. The cast that night includes Natalia Osipova and Reece Clarke in the lead roles.
The Royal Ballet
MANON
17 January – 8 March 2024
Live in cinemas: Wednesday 7 February 2024, 7.15pm GMT
Manon – casting 2024
17 JANUARY 2024
Francesca Hayward, Marcelino Sambé, Alexander Campbell
19 JANUARY 2024
Lauren Cuthbertson, Matthew Ball, Ryoichi Hirano
20 JANUARY 2024
Yasmine Naghdi, William Bracewell, Luca Acri
3 FEBRUARY 2024
Natalia Osipova, Reece Clarke, Alexander Campbell
3 FEBRUARY 2024
Yasmine Naghdi, William Bracewell, Luca Acri
7 FEBRUARY 2024
Natalia Osipova, Reece Clarke, Alexander Campbell
9 FEBRUARY 2024
Marianela Nuñez, Roberto Bolle, Ryoichi Hirano
14 FEBRUARY 2024
Lauren Cuthbertson, Matthew Ball, Ryoichi Hirano
17 FEBRUARY 2024
Francesca Hayward, Marcelino Sambé, Alexander Campbell
17 FEBRUARY 2024
Marianela Nuñez, Roberto Bolle, Ryoichi Hirano
23 FEBRUARY 2024
Fumi Kaneko, Vadim Muntagirov, Joseph Sissens
26 FEBRUARY 2024
Sarah Lamb, Ryoichi Hirano, James Hay
27 FEBRUARY 2024
Fumi Kaneko, Vadim Muntagirov, Joseph Sissens
2 MARCH 2024
Sarah Lamb, Ryoichi Hirano, James Hay
2 MARCH 2024
Akane Takada, Alexander Campbell, Valentino Zucchetti
5 MARCH 2024
Melissa Hamilton, Calvin Richardson, James Hay
8 MARCH 2024
Akane Takada, Alexander Campbell, Valentino Zucchetti
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 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.
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