In the spring of 1913, Parisian businessman Gabriel Astruc opens a new theater on the Champs Elysées. The first performance is the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring', danced by the Ballet Russes. The rehearsal process is extremely fraught: the orchestra dislike Stravinsky's harsh, atonal music; the dancers dislike the 'ugly' choreography of Vaslav Nijinsky. The volatile, bisexual Nijinsky is in a strained relationship with the much older Sergei Diaghilev, the Ballet Russes' charismatic but manipulative impresario. Public expectation is extremely high after Nijinsky's success in 'L'apres-midi d'un faune'. Finally, 'The Rite of Spring' premieres to a gossip-loving, febrile, fashion-conscious Parisian audience sharply divided as to its merits.
Adam Garcia
Vaslav Nijinsky
Alex Jennings
Sergei Diaghilev
Emma Pierson
Romola
Griff Rhys Jones
Astruc
Jonathan Aris
Jean Cocteau
Christian McKay
Pierre Monteux
Richard Hope
Grigoriev
Philip Herbert
Antoine
André Schneider
Ivory
Naomi Wattis
Lydia
Peter Copley
Patron
Sara Dee
Lady Hysteria
Steve Pemberton
Critic
Philip Battley
Bassoonist
Rachael Stirling
Marie Rambert
