The Royal Ballet

Manon

This adaptation of Abbé Prévost’s novel 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 heroine’s struggle to escape poverty make Manon one of the most dramatic and devastating of ballets, emphasised by Nicholas Georgiadis’ evocative designs that reflect the juxtaposition between Manon’s impoverished origins and the lavish world she longs to inhabit.

Manon’s brother Lescaut is offering her to the highest bidder when she meets Des Grieux and falls in love.  They elope to Paris, but when Monsieur G.M. offers Manon a life of luxury as his mistress she can’t resist.

With Lescauts’ encouragement Des Grieux cheats at cards in an attempt to win Monsieur G.M.’s fortune.  They are caught.  Manon is arrested as a prostitute and deported to New Orleans, followed by Des Grieux.  Manon dies from exhaustion on the run.

Running time: 3 hours 20 mins (incl. 2 intervals)