The Australian Ballet presents Ashton program

The Australian Ballet is delighted to be bringing a Frederick Ashton double-bill to Sydney this November.

Part one is The Dream, an airy, romantic work created to celebrate the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth, and a homage to his play A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Set in an enchanted wood, Ashton’s ballet captures the play's themes of love and magic, exploring a poetic space of imagination away from the "everyday world". Set to Mendelssohn’s tender score, The Dream features vivid characters and a storyline transporting audiences to a realm where the human meets the supernatural.

The other half of the program is Marguerite and Armand, created for, and made famous by, the legendary partnership of Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev in 1963. Marguerite and Armand brings the passion of a tragic affair between the doomed courtesan Marguerite and her lover Armand, framed through a series of flashbacks. 

"Ashton played an integral role in shaping the repertoire of the Australian Ballet, so it seems appropriate to welcome Marguerite and Armand to the repertoire," says Artistic Director David Hallberg. "Made famous by Fonteyn and Nureyev, this ballet will showcase the depth of the title roles through the dancers of this company."

'The Dream / Marguerite & Armand' comes to Sydney Opera House from 10-25 November. For info and tickets, go here.