Riot at the Rite

In the spring of 1913, Parisian businessman Gabriel Astruc opens a new theater on the Champs Elysées. The first performance is the premiere of Igor Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring', danced by the Ballet Russes. The rehearsal process is extremely fraught: the orchestra dislike Stravinsky's harsh, atonal music; the dancers dislike the 'ugly' choreography of Vaslav Nijinsky. The volatile, bisexual Nijinsky is in a strained relationship with the much older Sergei Diaghilev, the Ballet Russes' charismatic but manipulative impresario. Public expectation is extremely high after Nijinsky's success in 'L'apres-midi d'un faune'. Finally, 'The Rite of Spring' premieres to a gossip-loving, febrile, fashion-conscious Parisian audience sharply divided as to its merits.

Cast

Adam Garcia

Vaslav Nijinsky

Alex Jennings

Sergei Diaghilev

Emma Pierson

Romola

Griff Rhys Jones

Astruc

Jonathan Aris

Jean Cocteau

Christian McKay

Pierre Monteux

Richard Hope

Grigoriev

Philip Herbert

Antoine

André Schneider

Ivory

Naomi Wattis

Lydia

Peter Copley

Patron

Sara Dee

Lady Hysteria