national Arts Festival Banner

Saturday, February 28, 2026

ROYAL BALLET FILM AT RHUMBELOW

 

Rhumbelow Theatre will screen Wayne McGregor’s acclaimed ballet Woolf Works on March 15 at 14h00. (Filmed live on February 9, 2026).

(Venue opens 60 minutes before show for snacks/drinks)

Running time: 195 minutes with two intervals

 

Roland Stansell, who runs Rhumbelow Theatre welcomes ballet lovers to the Royal Opera House Season 2025/2026. He says: “These presentations are Live Streamed Events, with intervals, starring some of the world’s top performers. They are also recorded for venues such as The Rhumbelow Theatre and we are proud to bring you this series of Cinema experiences, as we endeavour to provide entertainment to appeal to everyone.”

Wayne McGregor’s acclaimed triptych Woolf Works was broadcast live to cinemas on February 9, 2026. Royal Ballet Principal dancer Natalia Osipova will perform the role of Clarissa / Virginia Woolf in the cinema broadcast.

Receiving its premiere in 2015, Woolf Works was McGregor’s first full-length work for The Royal Ballet and subsequently won both the 2016 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production and the 2015 Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Best Classical Choreography.

Woolf Works recreates the emotions, themes and fluid style of three of Virginia Woolf’s celebrated novels - Mrs Dalloway, Orlando, and The Waves - as well as elements of her autobiographical writings that echo aspects of her eventful life. With dramaturgy by Uzma Hameed, the ballet is presented as a series of multi-sensory collages, utilising designs from McGregor, Ciguë, and We Not I alongside lighting design by Lucy Carter, film design by Ravi Deepres, costumes by Moritz Junge and make-up design by Kabuki.

The performance is set to a specially commissioned score from Max Richter, who combines classical and electronic sounds together with spoken word to create an atmospheric soundscape for the work. This soundscape features a rare recording of Woolf reading her essay On Craftmanship, and a recording of actress Gillian Anderson reading Woolf’s haunting suicide note.

 

Creative Team

Direction and choreography: Wayne McGregor

Music: Max Richter

Designer: Ciguë, We Not I and Wayne McGregor

Costume designer: Moritz Junge

Lighting designer: Lucy Carter

Film designer: Ravi Deepres

Sound designer: Chris Ekers

Make-up designer: Kabuki

Dramaturgy: Uzma Hameed

Conductors: Koen Kessels/ Martin Georgiev

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

 

Under the directorship of Kevin O’Hare, The Royal Ballet unites tradition and innovation in world-class performances and is a driving force in the development of ballet as an art form. Based at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, it brings together today’s most dynamic and versatile dancers with a world-class orchestra and leading choreographers, composers, conductors, directors and creative teams to share awe-inspiring theatrical experiences with diverse audiences worldwide. The Company’s extensive repertory embraces 19th-century classics, the singular legacy of works by Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton and Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan, a compelling new canon of work by choreographers today including Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon, and the bold and complementary programming in the Linbury Theatre. Guest choreographers Kyle Abraham, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Cathy Marston, Arthur Pita, Crystal Pite, Hofesh Shechter, Pam Tanowitz, Mthuthuzeli November, Jessica Lang, Gemma Bond and Twyla Tharp have also created work for the Company.


Tickets R175. Bookings is essential on email:  roland@stansell.co.za or Webtickets.

Food available at the venue. Bar available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises)

Limited secure parking available

For more information contact 0824998636.