A re-imagining of the Olivier-nominated version of The Rite of Spring, which premiered at the London Coliseum in 2009 to great critical acclaim. It is completed by Michael Keegan-Dolan’s new interpretation of Petrushka, composed by Stravinsky in 1911. Both pieces together create an intoxicating double bill of dance theatre that honours the searing modernity of Stravinsky’s music.
The Rite of Spring was developed as a co-production between English National Opera and Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre.
The Rite of Spring/Petrushka is a Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre production in collaboration with Sadler’s Wells, London, co-produced with Movimentos Festwochen der Autostadt in Wolfsburg, Brisbane Festival, Galway Arts Festival and Melbourne Festival.
Supported by Culture Ireland as part of Ireland’s EU Presidency Culture Programme 2013.
Director and Choreographer.
Michael Keegan-Dolan
Designer.
Rae Smith
Lighting Designer.
Adam Silverman
Costume Designer (Petrushka).
Doey Lüthi
Associate Designer.
Alyson Cummins
Cast (2014).
Milos Galko, Saju Hari, Bernadette Iglich, Zen Jefferson, Anna Kaszuba, Saku Koistinen, Alexander Leonhartsberger, Bill Lengfelder, Louise Mochia, Mikel Murfi, Emmanuel Obeya, Innpang Ooi, Moritz Ostruschnjak, Keir Patrick, Rachel Poirier, Ino Riga, Daniel Riley, Tom Weinberger.
Photographs.
Ros Kavanagh (production photographs)
Richard Gilligan (promotional photographs)
In String of Rites, Sadler’s Wells has commissioned three works as a tribute to Vaslav Nijinsky’s 1913 Le sacre du printemps. It opened with the Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre’s double bill, The Rite of Spring and Petrushka. Both scores are by Igor Stravinsky, created for the original choreography by Nijinsky and Michel Fokine respectively.
Matthew Paluch, The Art Desk ★★★★
Sadler's Wells isn't where you go to hear folk tunes; it's the home of top-flight ballet. But the audience at Thursday's opening night of Petrushka was treated to a brief burst of Irish song when – after a cock-up with a rope ladder – the director burst on stage to keep everyone entertained. It was a brilliant bit of improvisation by Michael Keegan-Dolan, the youthful Dubliner. He sang; the hitch was fixed, and a warm fuzzy feeling enveloped the auditorium when the show went on. Everyone felt they were in it together.
Matthew Bell, The Independent
Sarah Crompton finds Fabulous Beast's version of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring at Sadler's Wells one of empty grace.
Sarah Crompton, The Telegraph ★★★
