Director

As death approaches, Elizabeth I of England is haunted by memories — real and imagined — of her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. Two queens who never met, locked in a fatal dance of sex, jealousy, political intrigue, and religious warfare.

This major new production from Scottish Ballet’s choreographer-in-residence Sophie Laplane and co-creator James Bonas (The Crucible) draws on the complex, combustible relationship between Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I of England — two women who never met but whose rivalry defined an era. Laplane’s bold choreography blends classical technique with contemporary edge, reshaping their story with powerful originality.

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Mary, Queen of Scots

Lincoln Center

Two women. Two crowns. One story. The US premiere of Scottish Ballet’s newest creation, Mary, Queen of Scots, is a sweeping dance-theater work exploring power, identity, and the reverberations of the Reformation amid Europe’s dynastic conflicts—England rise toward global supremacy. As Elizabeth I nears death, she is haunted by memories—real and imagined—of her cousin, Mary, the Queen of Scotland. Two queens who never met, locked in a fatal dance of sex, jealousy, political intrigue, and religious warfare. 

This major new production from Scottish Ballet’s choreographer-in-residence Sophie Laplane and co-creator James Bonas draws on the complex, combustible relationship between Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I of England — two women whose rivalry defined an era. Laplane’s bold choreography blends classical technique with contemporary edge, reshaping their story with powerful originality. 

Soutra Gilmour’s striking, contemporary set is complemented by gritty and glamorous costumes that capture the grandeur of the Tudor era, with nods to haute couture and subversive street style. Guest Artist Charlotta Öfverholm, as the older Elizabeth, brings her rich storytelling expertise to the company’s acclaimed ensemble. 

A longtime Festival favorite since its American debut at Spoleto in 1986, Scottish Ballet returns with this bold new work blending history, movement, and music in a vivid reflection on ambition and legacy. Celebrated for its contemporary interpretations and groundbreaking collaborations, this is an iconic story unconventionally told: where Renaissance meets punk, where classical ballet meets visceral theatre, and where history becomes urgent, immediate, and unmissable.

Scottish Ballet: Mary, Queen of Scots

Gaillard Center

What would a child’s room say if it could talk? A boy goes on the rampage because he doesn’t want to do his homework; his mother, of course, blows her top. When the child vandalises his room and even torments his beloved cat, things take a surprising turn: suddenly, the mistreated furniture, cups, books and animals start to speak! And the child finds himself in a world in which he is forced to think about others.

Das Kind und der Zauberspuk / L’enfant et les sortilèges

Semperoper Dresden

The American theater and film choreographer Helen Pickett is praised as 'one of the few prominent women in contemporary ballet'. For her Dutch debut, she delves into the mind of the ruthless Lady Macbeth together with director James Bonas and composer Peter Salem.

Lady Macbeth

National Opera & Ballet

With generous support from The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and in partnership with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, UCSF Memory and Aging Center,  and the Global Brain Health Institute, Jake Broder, James Bonas, and Cath Brittan present UnRavelled, the story of Dr. Anne Adams and her obsession with Ravel’s Bolero. How she, through her diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), developed as a painter and became a remarkable artist. Through her story the play also uncovers the mystery of Ravel’s similar diagnosis almost 100 years earlier.

Director

James Bonas

Events

Past events

4 - 7 Jun, 2026

Mary, Queen of Scots · David H. Koch Theater

28 - 30 May, 2026

Scottish Ballet: Mary, Queen of Scots · Spoleto Festival USA

About

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