This is London October 2026 - Flipbook - Page 16
Photo: Johan Persson
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EBONY SCROOGE RETURNS TO
SADLER'S WELLS
Ebony Scrooge, a bold retelling of
Charles Dickens' famous novel A
Christmas Carol blending hip hop,
comedy and physical theatre, returns for
2026 with the show's creator, Dannielle
'Rhimes' Lecointe, this time taking on
the titular role in her first onstage role in
10 years.
A ZooNation: The Kate Prince
Company and Sadler’s Wells production,
the first festive show at Sadler's Wells
East which enjoyed sell-out success in
2025, Ebony Scrooge tells the story of a
ruthless fashion designer who has
cancelled Christmas. Surrounded by
wealth, style and success, Ebony
embarks on a journey to reconnect with
her Caribbean roots, being visited by
three ghosts along the way.
Ebony Scrooge was brought to life by
East London born-and-raised
choreographer Rhimes, Associate
Artistic Director of ZooNation, whose
career spans film, television and theatre,
including choreography for the 2012
Olympic Opening Ceremony. The show
is a hugely personal one for Rhimes as it
takes inspiration from her own
experiences of redefining the festive
season by reconnecting with her
Caribbean roots, making her new
capacity as the show's principal dancer
for 2026 all the more poignant.
Ebony Scrooge returns to Sadler's
Wells East from 24 November to
3 January.
ROYAL BALLET OPENS SEASON
WITH MACMILLAN’S MANON
The Royal Ballet opens the 2026/27
Season on 13 October on the Main
Stage with a revival of Kenneth
MacMillan’s acclaimed ballet Manon.
Adapted from Abbé Prévost’s novel
Manon Lescaut, Manon embodies
Kenneth MacMillan at his best, his acute
insight into human psychology and his
mastery of narrative choreography
finding full expression in the
impassioned duets of the central couple,
visceral and urgent in their desire. With
its evocative designs, and powerful tale
of poverty, love and longing, the work is
one of the most dramatic and
devastating ballets in the repertory. Set
to music by Jules Massenet and
Nicholas Georgiadis’ evocative designs,
the work is one of the most dramatic and
devasting ballets in the repertory.
Yasmine Naghdi as Manon in Manon.
Photo: 2024 Foteini Christofilopoulou
The production’s premiere, which
received a standing ovation, was danced
by Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell
in the lead roles. Several Royal Ballet
Principal dancers will make their debut
in this revival, including Mayara Magri
as Manon, and Patricio Revé and Cesar
Corrales as Des Grieux. Guest Artist
Hugo Marchand will perform alongside
Royal Ballet Principal Marianela Núñez
on certain November dates.
Manon will also be broadcast in
cinemas worldwide on 27 October at
19.15. The cast will feature Royal Ballet
Principals Yasmine Naghdi as Manon
and William Bracewell as Des Grieux.
ENGLISH TOURING OPERA IN
GLUCK'S ORPHEUS & EURYDICE
English Touring Opera are to present
its autumn tour, exploring timeless
stories of love and grief and
encompassing music from the 17th
century to the present day, including a
performance at Hackney Empire on
Saturday 17 October, featuring Gluck’s
Orpheus & Eurydice as never heard
before in a brand-new orchestration and
a double-bill of Elena Langer’s Ariadne
and Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas.
The tour features a fresh take on
Gluck's Orpheus & Eurydice, directed by
acclaimed director and movement
specialist Jenny Ogilvie, whose recent
credits include ETO's 2023 production
of Cinderella and movement direction for
Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre.
Singing the role of Orpheus in the
autumn is tenor William Morgan, who
returns to ETO following his acclaimed
performance in the company's 2025
production of The Rape of Lucretia.
The tour also includes a double bill of
Elena Langer's 2002 opera Ariadne and
Purcell's Dido & Aeneas, presenting a
fascinating exploration of mythology and
psychology from operas written over 300
years apart. Ariadne adapts a poem by
Glynn Maxwell into a beautiful and
devastating piece for soprano, off-stage
countertenor and an on-stage quartet of
oboe, violin, viola and cello.
englishtouringopera.org.uk
English Touring Opera – Ariadne and
Feast Creative
Dido & Aeneas.
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
