The English National Ballet invite you to the London Coliseum to fall under the spell of Kenneth MacMillan’s fairy tale classic The Sleeping Beauty.

The Sleeping Beauty is a ballet in a prologue and three acts, first performed in 1890. It’s tells the story of Princess Aurora. The wicked fairy Carabosse is furious she wasn’t invited to Princess Aurora’s christening. She gives the baby a spindle, saying that one day the Princess will prick her finger on it and die. The Lilac Fairy makes her own christening gift a softening of Carabosse’s curse: Aurora will not die, but will fall into a deep sleep, which only a prince’s kiss will break.

On her 16th birthday, Aurora discovers the spindle and pricks her finger. She falls into an enchanted sleep, and the whole palace sleeps with her. One hundred years later, Prince Florimund discovers the palace, hidden deep within a great, dark forest. He wakes Aurora with a kiss.

Amongst numerous guest stars, English National Ballet’s performances of The Sleeping Beauty will see world-renowned ballet star, Maria Alexandrova, guest with the Company in the role of Princess Aurora. Alexandrova won Gold Medal at the Moscow International Ballet Competition in 1997 and joined the Bolshoi Ballet shortly after, becoming Principal in 2004. These performances mark the first time Alexandrova has danced with a UK Company. Please see the ‘Cast’ section below for information on Principal casting throughout the show’s run.

This bewitching and dark fairy-tale is brought to life by the English National Ballet in Kenneth MacMillan’s exquisite production. A visually stunning productions with Peter Farmer’s sumptuous set and elaborate costumes by Nicholas Georgiadas, this gorgeously classical production features Tchaikovsky’s ravishing score played live by English National Ballet Philharmonic.

This revival coincides with the recent anniversary of MacMillan’s death, and follows the Company’s performances of MacMillan’s masterpiece Song Of The Earth in the autumn/winter.

Find out more about the rich variety of West End shows on offer in Theatreland.