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.

• 
  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
• 
  André Schneider

  Ivory
• 
  Peter Copley

  Patron
• 
  Sara Dee

  Lady Hysteria