The production, which reopened the venue after the war in 1946, returns to the stage from the 21st December until the 14th March 2017.
Having reopened the venue after the Second World War in 1946 and the time that the company first set up residence in Covent Garden, with Margot Fonteyn in the leading role of Princess Aurora.
For this revival, marking the 70th anniversary of the production, there will be a number of debuts with Francesca Hayward, Yasmine Nagdhi and Iana Salenko dancing the role of Princess Aurora and Alexander Campbell, Matthew Ball, Reece Clarke and James Hay debuting in the role of Prince Florimund.
The wicked fairy Carabosse is furious she wasn’t invited to Princess Aurora’s christening. She gives the baby a spindle, saying that one day the Princess will prick her finger on it and die. The Lilac Fairy makes her own christening gift a softening of Carabosse’s curse: Aurora will not die, but will fall into a deep sleep, which only a prince’s kiss will break.
As well as the original choreography by Marius Petipa, the revival also features additional choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, Frederick Ashton and Anthony Dowell.
The production is an important part of the Royal Ballet’s repertoire, but after a number of different interpretations The Royal Ballet has returned to the inspiration of the original with Oliver Messel’s magical, luminous designs.
The Sleeping Beauty returns to the Royal Opera House’s stage from the 21st December until 14th March 2017. To book tickets visit: Ticketmaster.co.uk, Discount Theatre.com, Theatre Tickets Direct.co.uk, Love Theatre.com, Theatre People.com and UK Tickets.co.uk.