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Ballet

MADDADDAM

The Royal Ballet and Opera

  • Date night
  • Great for groups
  • Family-friendly
Date
Sat, 27 Feb 2027
Time
19:30
Venue
Royal Opera House
City
London
Tickets
See booking site
Book tickets ↗

You'll be taken to the ensemble's official site.

Summary

The Royal Ballet performs Maddaddam, a production inspired by Margaret Atwood’s trilogy of novels, at the Royal Opera House.

Why it's fantastic

Margaret Atwood’s dystopian storytelling takes on a visceral new life in this production, translating a celebrated literary trilogy into raw physical movement. Seeing the company navigate these complex narrative themes on such a grand scale offers a profound way to experience the unsettling power of contemporary dance.

Good to know

When to clap
Clap after solos and at the end of each scene

Our guide to this performance

What you'll hear

This performance brings a modern literary epic to the stage, translating the narrative weight of a celebrated dystopian trilogy into the language of movement. You will hear how the score supports a landscape that shifts between the remnants of a technological society and a starker, primal future. The evening is shaped by these contrasting environments, using a large cast to explore themes of survival and human connection. Listen for how the music mirrors the physical tension of the dancers as they navigate a world that has been irrevocably altered. The choreography aims to capture the specific emotional tone of the source material, moving from intricate, contained gestures to expansive ensemble sequences. You may notice how the production uses the scale of the stage to suggest both the vastness of a changing planet and the intimate struggles of the characters within it. It is a long-form narrative work that asks you to follow a complex story through visual and sonic cues rather than words.

Who's performing

The Royal Ballet and Opera, based at their historic home in Covent Garden, are recognised for their ability to deliver large-scale productions that combine technical precision with dramatic depth. As one of the United Kingdom's leading resident companies, they frequently commission new works that challenge the boundaries of traditional movement. The ensemble is known for its versatility, housing dancers capable of both classical refinement and the raw, physical demands of modern narrative dance. In this production, the company demonstrates their expertise in handling complex, multi-layered stories through a unified artistic vision.

Planning your evening

This performance takes place at the Royal Opera House in London. As a full-length ballet based on a trilogy of novels, this evening is well-suited to those who enjoy narrative-driven dance and atmospheric stage design. The venue does not enforce a specific dress code, though many visitors choose smart-casual attire. You should check the final cast list and specific running times upon arrival at the theatre. While the source material is literary, no prior reading is required to follow the physical storytelling presented on stage.

Written by the Bravura editorial team from the ensemble's published programme and venue information. We don't reproduce copy from box-office sites. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.

Programme

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