Royal Ballet announce return to the Royal Opera House

Photo credit: Tristram Kenton

The Royal Ballet will make its return to the stage next month with a special live-streamed performance, direct from the Royal Opera House.

The full company haven’t appeared together since March and their reunion will be a celebratory series of dance highlights. Featuring over 100 dancers and a full orchestra, it will be one of the biggest stage performances since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Curated by Kevin O’Hare, The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage will present excerpts from both traditional and contemporary classics, including the work of Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMilan, Wayne McGregor, Christopher Wheeldon, Hofesh Shechter, Cathy Marston, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, George Balanchine, Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.

Principals participating in the one-off show include Francesca Hayward, Sarah Lamb, Vadim Muntagirov, Marianela Núñez, Marcelino Sambé, Edward Watson, and Natalia Osipova, amongst others.

Over the past few months the Royal Opera House has faced one of the most challenging periods in its history, with the ballet serving as a pilot on the journey back to fully re-opening to the public. Whilst the show will be broadcast all over the country, the theatre will house a socially distanced audience of students and health workers, whilst those on stage will be required to bubble in small groups.

O’Hare said: "We are so excited about the full company returning to their home stage. The dancers have sorely missed performing and connecting with their audiences these past few months and I have been deeply impressed by the grace and tenacity they have shown during these challenging circumstances.’’

Public tickets for the broadcast on 9 October are priced at £16. Proceeds will go directly to the Royal Opera House’s fundraising campaign and the stream will be available to watch on demand 30 days afterwards.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.