Romeo and Juliet

Sergei Prokofiev

Janáček Theatre / Ballet Dates and tickets

Renewed for the 80th anniversary of its world premiere in Brno.

Prokofiev’s ballet drama Romeo and Juliet had its world premiere at the National Theatre Brno in 1938, choreographed by the Brno ballet legend, Ivo Vania Psota. Few ballet ensembles can boast of performing the world premiere of a work that has become one of the most staged ballets in the world. The Ballet NdB has such a title, and the latest production of this work will be the seventh premiered by the ensemble since 1938. Dance renditions of the Shakespeare drama are very popular, and many famous choreographers have created legendary stagings throughout the world in the 20th century up to this very day. The reason is not only the eternally resonant theme of tragic love but also the exceptional music by Sergei Prokofiev, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful ballet works of all time.

Although our story does not play out against the historical backdrop and renaissance costumes of Verona, it honours Shakespeare’s work and its main theme of young love. The dominant theme of the ballet is the hostile division of society, where the main characters coming from the opposite sides. The aim of the creators was to rework the original story into a modern dance drama which resonates with the period and the taste of today’s ballet audience.

Premiere: 8th of March 2019, Janáček Theatre

World premiere: 30th of December 1938, Mahen Theatre (back then Theatre on the City Walls)

(Serge Prokofieff – Romeo und Julia op.64 ballet in 4 acts to a scenario by Sergei Radlov, Adrian Piotrovsky, Leonid Lavrovsky and the composer)

duration: 2 hours 20 min
one intermission 25 min
suitable for children of 12 years and older

THANKS TO THOSE WHO FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED US AS PART OF THE FEDORA PRIZE 2018 PROJECT!

With the upcoming premiere of Romeo and Juliet, we reached the final four of the Fedora Van Cleef and Arpel Prize for Ballet for the prestigious Fedora Prize 2018! To reach the final, we first made the shortlist of the 16 best dance projects selected by the jury. This in itself was a huge success, and we found ourselves in the company of great dance ensembles. It also marked the first time a project from the former Eastern Bloc was shortlisted. In the next phase, we managed to collect the most votes in the online poll, and we then battled for the top spot with amazing ensembles from France and Great Britain. The final winner was selected by the jury. But before that occurred, a crowdfunding campaign to support new productions was held on the Fedora Platform. Anyone could support our project with any amount to help us bring Romeo and Juliet back to Brno in grand fashion, and thus contribute to preparations for the premiere. The production was worthy simply because it was in Brno that the world premiere of this ballet took place 80 years ago, i.e. on 30 December 1938 at Mahen Theatre. We have prepared for donors beautiful theatre and ballet rewards to make them part of the actual preparations for the premiere.