Darcey Bussell and Ore Oduba introduce Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling from the Royal Ballet. Based on the true story of the death of Crown Prince Rudolf and his young mistress Mary Vetsera in 1889, Steven McRae and Sarah Lamb take on these challenging roles in a dark and intense ballet.

The emotionally unstable Crown Prince Rudolf is haunted by an obsession with death. Pressured to marry Princess Stephanie, his former lover, Marie Larisch, introduces him to Mary Vetsera, who shares his morbid fascination.

At his hunting lodge in the village of Mayerling, Rudolf and Mary form a suicide pact. They make love before Rudolf shoots Mary and then himself. In their despair, the royal family covers up the tragedy.

Premiered in 1978, Mayerling is considered one of the most difficult ballets, both technically and emotionally, for male dancers in the repertoire, with choreography that pushes the boundaries of the classical genre. Show less