The journey of a hero

Spartacus

Melbourne | Sydney 2018

155 mins in all / 2 intervals

In 2018, one of The Australian Ballet’s most popular works springs to new life. Spartacus tells the story of a gladiator who led a slaves’ rebellion against the Roman empire. Charting the journey of a man finding passionate love, his mission and freedom, the ballet showcases the company’s men at their spirited and athletic best.

Lucas Jervies is a choreographer, a NIDA-trained director and a former dancer of The Australian Ballet: Spartacus is his passion project. His brand new production will feature the soaring music of Aram Khachaturian; sets and costumes by Jérôme Kaplan, who created the inventive designs for Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella; and our male dancers in their most powerful moment as the slaves who rise against the tyranny of their rulers.

Think ballet is all pointe shoes and tutus? Think again.

A New Australian gladiator is in the ring.

Herald Sun

Universal in its themes, Spartacus is a classic story of an underdog who fights back against all odds. The passionate love between Spartacus and his wife Flavia anchors an urgent rebellion against the Roman Empire and Crassus, a Roman general.

KEVIN JACKSON, ROBYN HENDRICKS AND TY KING-WALL. PHOTOGRAPHY JUSTIN RIDLER

The first version of Spartacus seen on Australian stages was choreographed by László Seregi. It was premiered by The Australian Ballet in 1978 and toured New York, Washington DC and Costa Mesa. 

ARTISTS OF THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET. PHOTOGRAPHY BRANCO GAICA

CREDITS
Choreography Lucas Jervies
Music Aram Khachaturian
Costume and set design Jérôme Kaplan
Lighting design Benjamin Cisterne
Dramaturge Imara Savage
Fight Director Nigel Poulton

We celebrate the many philanthropists who are making this production possible, with special thanks to:

Mr Kenneth R Reed AM, SPARTACUS
McCusker Charitable Foundation, FLAVIA
Friends of The Australian Ballet (NSW) Ltd, CRASSUS
Mrs Roslyn Packer AC, TERTULLA
The Australian Ballet Society, BATIATUS

The Dame Margaret Scott Fund for Choreographers supports Lucas Jervies

★★★★1/2 ...as big and as bold as they come.

Limelight

Spartacus is a triumph of emotion and pure physicality.

Herald Sun

Seriously memorable moments.

The Age

… visceral and political; allegorical and contemporary.

Limelight

Politically the time is right to tackle a story like this. But as a choreographer, formally, I’m really interested in it. How do you choreograph a war? How do you explore violence and beauty, which ballet is, at the same time?

Lucas Jervies - Choreographer

​May the telling of this story remind us that we all bear the responsibility to treat each other with humanity.

Artistic Director David McAllister AM