In their 20/21 season, the Royal Ballet presents the world premiere of Christopher Wheeldon and Joby Talbot’s new full-length ballet Like Water for Chocolate, based on the Mexican novel of the same name by Laura Esquivel. Like Water for Chocolate will run from 2–17 June 2022.
This co-commission between The Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre reunites the creative team including costume and set designer Bob Crowley and lighting designer Natasha Katz. Luke Halls joins them as projection designer while acclaimed conductor and Cultural Ambassador to Mexico Alondra de la Parra conducts. Laura Esquivel worked with Wheeldon to shape the text of her magical novel into a scenario for the ballet, which also draws on rich historical research by Camila de la Parra.
Synopsis
Tita lives with her family on a ranch in Mexico. She falls in love with a boy, Pedro, who lives nearby, but when they want to marry, family precedent prevents it: Tita must remain unmarried in order to care for her mother. Tita’s love for cooking is such that her own emotions are transmitted to others through the food she prepares, and as her moods change in response to events in her life, the consequences for all those around her become ever more startling… even fatal.
Creatives
Music: Joby Talbot
Designer: Bob Crowley
Lighting designer: Natasha Katz
Video designer: Luke Halls
Music consultant: Alondra de la Parra
Inspired by the book by Laura Esquivel
More details can be found at the Royal Opera House website.
