Blu-ray – The Christopher Wheeldon Collection

"The Christopher Wheeldon Collection showcases three of Wheeldon's most acclaimed recent productions for The Royal Ballet, including Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (2018), The Winter's Tale (2014) and Like Water for Chocolate (2022). Lewis Carroll’s ever-popular story provides the basis for Wheeldon’s spectacular production of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Bob Crowley’s vivid sets and costumes take us down the rabbit hole into a colourful world full of curious creatures and captivating characters. Joby Talbot’s original score is full of sweeping melodies and contemporary sounds. Lauren Cuthbertson stars as the inquisitive Alice, with Federico Bonelli as the charming Knave of Hearts, Steven McRae as the tap-dancing Mad Hatter and Laura Morera as the formidable Queen of Hearts. This exuberant and engaging ballet is spectacular entertainment for the whole family. Wheeldon drew on the same music and design team to create an evocative reimagining of The Winter's Tale, Shakespeare's enduring story of jealousy, compassion and forgiveness. The staging effortlessly captures the work's profound emotional trajectory, with powerful designs by Crowley, Talbot's skilful score and Wheeldon’s constantly inventive choreography. Strong company performances—among them Edward Watson's Leontes, Zenaida Yanowsky's Paulina and Sarah Lamb's Perdita—put the finishing touches to a gleaming production. In Like Water for Chocolate, a modern Mexican classic provides the basis for a theatrical tale of love, jealousy, repression, and revolution. The 2022 production reunited Wheeldon with Talbot and Crowley, now an established and stellar creative team. Inspired by Laura Esquivel’s novel, the central character’s emotions spill out through cooking to influence everyone around her in startling and dramatic ways. The full Company, led by Francesca Hayward as Tita and Marcelino Sambé as Pedro, reshape this captivating family saga into a richly layered and engrossing new ballet where passion, mystery and magic combine."