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

as Vaslav Nijinsky

Alex Jennings

as Sergei Diaghilev

Emma Pierson

as Romola

Griff Rhys Jones

as Astruc

Jonathan Aris

as Jean Cocteau

Christian McKay

as Pierre Monteux

Richard Hope

as Grigoriev

Philip Herbert

as Antoine

André Schneider

as Ivory

Naomi Wattis

as Lydia

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