Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre

The two halves of Michael Keegan-Dolan’s thrilling dance theatre double bill are a contrast in light and dark that mirrors the Stravinsky music of the same name.

The imagery in The Rite of Spring is dark, shocking, violent and sexual. The rhythmic elements of the music are played out in scenes of a pagan fertility rite, as age is sacrificed and mother earth is worshipped. By contrast Petrushka is bright and light. Elements of folk dances and warmer days are conjured as the company dances for approval from their ancestors.

Rite is about dark elemental forces, about power and violence while Petrushka is about aspiration, salvation and spiritual enlightenment. Performed by an international cast of 14, both works are theatrical interpretations of the original music that created such outrage and excitement in the early 20th century.

Suitable for ages 16 and over.