A Centenary Celebration
Cast sheet
Thursday 8 October 2026
|
7.30pm
Exceptional philanthropic support from Royal Ballet and Opera Principal The Julia Rausing Trust
Generous philanthropic support from Doug and Ceri King and the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund
The 2026/27 Royal Ballet Season is generously supported by Aud Jebsen
Approximate timings
Checkmate Suite
The Royal Ballet, The Royal Ballet School
Credits
Choreography
Ninette de Valois
Music
Arthur Bliss
By arrangement with Novello & Co Ltd
Designer
E McKnight Kauffer
Lighting recreated by
Adam King after John B. Read
Répétiteurs
Darcey Bussell, Jessica Clarke, Samara Downs, Kevin Emerton, Sarah Kundi , Iain Mackay, Zenaida Yanowsky
Principal Coaching
Denis Bonner, Monica Mason, Christopher Saunders
Cast
Black Queen
Mayara Magri
Red Knight
Reece Clarke
King
Christopher Saunders
Four Knights and Red Pawns
The Royal Ballet School pre-professional year
Music credits
Conductor
Martin Georgiev
Concert Master
Vasko Vassilev
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Birthday Offering
Pièce d'occasion in one scene
The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet
Credits
Choreography
Frederick Ashton
Music
Alexander Glazunov
by arrangement with Peters Edition Limited, London
Arranged by
Robert Irving
Costume Designer
André Levasseur
Lighting Recreated by
Chris Wilkinson after John B. Read
Staging
Christopher Carr
Senior Répétiteur
Samira Saidi
Répétiteurs
Zhan Atymtayev, Patricia Tierney, Jonathan Payn
Cast
Dancers
Marianela Nuñez, Katherine Ochoa, Anna Rose O'Sullivan, Yasmine Naghdi, Rosanna Ely, Akane Takada, Yu Kurihara, Patricio Revé, Tzu-Chao Chou, Luca Acri, Nicol Edmonds, Riku Ito, Leo Dixon, Ryan Felix
Music credits
Conductor
Charlotte Politi
Concert Master
Vasko Vassilev
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Short Works and World Premieres
Cast and creatives
Dancers
Lauren Cuthbertson, Lukas B. Brændsrød
Choreography
Christopher Wheeldon
Music
Performances of the work are given by permission of Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Limited
Benjamin Britten
Costume Designer
Erdem Moralioğlu
Lighting Designer
Chris Wilkinson
Assistant to the Choreographer
Jacquelin Barrett
Conductor
Martin Georgiev
Solo Piano
Kate Shipway
Dancers
Matthew Ball, William Bracewell
Choreography
Cathy Marston
Music
'Night covers up the rigid land' – performances of the work are given by permission of Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Limited
Benjamin Britten
Libretto
W.H. Auden
Costume Designer
Annemarie Woods
Lighting Designer
Chris Wilkinson
Senior Répétiteur to the Visiting Choreographers
Deirdre Chapman
Solo Piano
Robert Clark
Tenor
Michael Gibson
Dancers
Yaoqian Shang, Mathias Dingman
Choreography
Kenneth MacMillan
Music
Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Arranged by
Philip Gammon
Costume Designer
Peter Farmer
Lighting recreated by
Chris Wilkinson after John B. Read
Principal Coaching
Darcey Bussell, Patricia Teirney
Solo Piano
Robert Clark
Dancers
Miki Mizutani, Sae Maeda, Joseph Sissens, Tzu-Chao Chou
Concept, Direction and Choreography
Wayne McGregor
Music
Franz Schubert
Lighting Designer
Lucy Carter recreated by Chris Wilkinson
Staging
Jenny Tattersall
Solo Piano
Jeanette Wong
Dancers
Liam Boswell, Lukas B. Brændsrød, Olivia Findlay, Brayden Gallucci, James Large, Caspar Lench, Marco Masciari, Taisuke Nakao, Amelia Townsend
Choreography and Costume Concept
Joshua Junker
Music
Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, That's someone you'll never forget
Elvis Presley
Additional music composed by
Joshua Junker
Lighting recreated by
Chris Wilkinson after Natasha Chivers
Dancers
Yasiel Hodelín Bello, Birmingham Royal Ballet Dancers
Choreography
David Bintley
Music
White Mischief from ‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Cafe. By arrangement with Peters Edition Limited on behalf of Editions Penguin Cafe Limited
Simon Jeffes
Designer
Hayden Griffin
Lighting recreated by
Chris Wilkinson after John B Read
Répétiteur
Patricia Tierney
Conductor
Charlotte Politi
Dancers
Sarah Lamb, Steven McRae
Original Concept
Natalie Abrahami, Steven McRae, Vasko Vassilev
Choreography
Loughlan Prior
Music
Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Lighting recreated by
Chris Wilkinson after Prema Mehta
Principal Coaching
Samira Saidi
Conductor
Martin Georgiev
Solo Violin
Vasko Vassilev
Dancers
Francesca Hayward, Marcelino Sambé
Choreography
Kenneth MacMillan
Music
Jules Massenet
Orchestrated by
Originally compiled by Leighton Lucas with the collaboration of Hilda Gaunt
Martin Yates
Designer
Nicholas Georgiadis
Lighting recreated by
Chris Wilkinson after Jacopo Pantani
Artistic Supervisor for the MacMillan Estate
Laura Morera
Principal Coaching
Edward Watson
Conductor
Martin Georgiev
Dancers
Fumi Kaneko, Vadim Muntagirov
Choreography
Marius Petipa
Additional choreography
Liam Scarlett
Music
Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Production
Liam Scarlett
Designer
John Macfarlane
Lighting Designer
Chris Wilkinson
Principal Coaching
Alexander Agadzhanov
Conductor
Charlotte Politi
Music credits
Concert Master
Vasko Vassilev
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Centenary
The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Royal Ballet School | World Premiere
Credits
Choreography
Valentino Zucchetti
Music
Jules Massenet
Lighting Designer
Chris Wilkinson
Senior Répétiteur to the Visiting Choreographers
Deirdre Chapman
Cast
Dancers
The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Royal Ballet School
Music credits
Conductor
Martin Georgiev
Concert Master
Vasko Vassilev
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Director
Kevin O’Hare CBE
Music Director
Koen Kessels
Resident Choreographer
Sir Wayne McGregor CBE
Artistic Associate
Christopher Wheeldon OBE
Administrative Director
Heather Baxter
Rehearsal Director
Christopher Saunders
Clinical Director Ballet Healthcare
Shane Kelly
Further information
We are working hard on our commitment towards becoming more sustainable and are striving for our net zero goal of 2035. By using digital cast sheets and e-tickets, we have reduced our paper consumption by over five tonnes per year. You can view our digital cast sheets on a computer, tablet or smartphone by scanning the QR codes displayed around the building using your smartphone’s camera app. They are also displayed on screens outside the auditoria.
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Larger bags and backpacks need to be check into our complimentary cloakrooms. Unattended bags may be removed.
Please do not place any personal belongings on the ledges in front of you. Mobile phones should be turned off and stored away safely during performances.
Only bottled water and ice cream purchased from the premises can be taken into the auditorium.
If you arrive late to the auditorium or leave during a performance, you will not be allowed back to your seat until the interval or a suitable break.
Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the premises.
The safety of our visitors, staff and artists is our priority. To help us provide a comfortable experience for everyone, please be mindful of others and their personal space.
Our staff are committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect and we ask that you show them and your fellow audience members respect too. We adopt a zero-tolerance approach in response to anyone who interacts with our staff or with fellow audience members in an intimidating, aggressive or threatening manner.
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For people, not profit.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)