Blog

Kenneth MacMillan's masterpiece Manon is touring outside London for only the second time in 30 years. Find out what audiences are saying about this tragic story ballet, touring to Manchester, Milton Keynes and Southampton this autumn, before heading to the London Coliseum from 16 – 20 January 2019. Read more

When Kenneth MacMillan started work on his ballet version of Manon, rather than use the scores from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Manon Lescaut or Jules Massenet’s opera Manon, he chose to cherry-pick pieces of music written by the latter. This includes sections from some of Massenet’s other operas, oratorios, art songs and orchestra suites. Read more

Dust was created by choreographer Akram Khan  in 2014, as part of Lest We Forget, our dance programme reflecting on World War I. We met with one of his collaborators, Kimie Nakano, who designed its costumes. Read more

No Man’s Land was created by choreographer Liam Scarlett in 2014, as part of Lest We Forget, our dance programme reflecting on World War I. In its review, The Daily Telegraph wrote that the piece was “atmospherically designed by Jon Bausor”. We recently met with Jon Bausor to discuss the piece’s creation and his inspiration. Read more

Second Breath was created by choreographer Russell Maliphant in 2014, as part of Lest We Forget, our dance programme reflecting on World War I. We met Stevie Stewart, costume designer for Second Breath, to discuss the piece’s creation and her inspiration. Read more

The character of Manon Lescaut has kept on inspiring artists since her story was first written in 1731. And not just in opera and ballet: but also in film (from silent to post-war) and Japanese pop music! Read more