Mary Skeaping’s celebrated and enthralling production of Giselle returns to the London Coliseum in 2025 following five-star reviews in January 2024. Giselle is one of the greatest romantic ballets and is a haunting tale of innocence and betrayal – a timeless story of redemption and the power of love.
Giselle is a young peasant girl who has fallen in love with Albrecht, a Duke who hides his engagement to another, and his title from her. When Giselle discovers his deception, she is driven to madness and eventually dies of a broken heart. In the middle of the night, the Wilis congregate by her grave, to welcome her into their fold and join them as vengeful spirits of betrayed brides, who will force men to dance until their death. Will Giselle’s love manage to protect Albrecht from his seemingly inevitable fate?
Capturing the idyllic and sunny optimism of Giselle’s village life to a dark and moonlit world of menace and mystery, Mary Skeaping’s enthralling production features powerful otherworldly images and some of ballet’s most dramatic scenes.
Adolphe Adam’s score is performed live by the English National Ballet Philharmonic and perfectly sets the scene for an atmospheric and ultimately heartbreaking performance.