Manon
A Timeless Tale of Love, Desire and Temptation
After more than a decade, The Australian Ballet presents the highly anticipated return of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, a tragic tale of desire and temptation. Based on Abbé Prévost’s 1731 novel, Manontransports audiences from the opulence of 18th-century Paris to the desolate swamps of Louisiana, exploring the timeless conflict between passion and wealth.
The Australian Ballet will perform Manon in Sydney from 30 April to 17 May at the Sydney Opera House’s Joan Sutherland Theatre, accompanied by Opera Australia Orchestra, and in Melbourne from 10 to 22 October at the Regent Theatre, with Orchestra Victoria.
Since its premiere at the Royal Opera House in 1974, Manon has captivated audiences worldwide. The Australian Ballet first staged this landmark production in 1994, with its last performance in 2014. Now, in 2025, it returns showcasing the Company’s extraordinary artistry in one of ballet’s most emotionally charged and technically demanding works. 
The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg said: “Manon is a masterpiece that stays with you long after the curtain falls. The duets are some of the most romantically charged in all of our repertoire. With the passion of the storytelling, every moment demands complete commitment from the dancers, physically and emotionally. What results is the beauty of ballet told through the passion of lost love.”
“It’s a production that pushes the Company to new heights and bringing it back after so many years feels like the perfect moment to remind audiences why it’s such a powerhouse of ballet,” added Hallberg.
At the heart of Manon lies a gripping tale of love and survival. When the young and beautiful Manon meets the idealistic student des Grieux, they fall deeply in love and flee to Paris to build a life together. But Manon, captivated by the lure of wealth and luxury, is drawn into the grasp of the powerful Monsieur GM, a wealthy nobleman who promises her a life of opulence.
Torn between passion and ambition, her choices set off a chain of events that lead to betrayal, imprisonment, and ultimately, a desperate escape to the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana. Pursued by des Grieux, the lovers fight to stay together, but their story ends in heartbreak as fate deals its final blow.
Sir Kenneth MacMillan, one of the most influential choreographers of his generation, redefined classical ballet storytelling. As Director of The Royal Ballet, he created over 60 works performed by the world’s most prestigious companies. Manon is a testament to his signature style, fusing grand narrative with raw emotional intensity.
MacMillan’s choreography masterfully conveys the emotional weight of Manon’s journey, from the feverish elation of first love to the anguish of betrayal and exile. Through sweeping ensemble scenes that capture the grandeur of 18th-century Paris, to deeply intimate pas de deux that lay bare Manon and des Grieux’s passion and desperation, Manon unravels the devastating consequences of desire and power. The bedroom duet between Manon and des Grieux is one of the most poignant love scenes in 20th-century ballet, an exquisite portrayal of passion, tenderness, and longing.
Set to Jules Massenet’s evocative score, arranged by Martin Yates, Manon comes to life through the performance of Orchestra Victoria in Melbourne and the Opera Australia Orchestra in Sydney. Their soaring melodies and dramatic orchestral arrangements elevate the emotional stakes, with the lush, melancholic music heightening every moment of the lovers’ fateful journey, from seduction to despair.
Peter Farmer’s opulent set and costume designs further enrich the production, bringing the splendour of 18th-century France to life. From the shimmering ballrooms of Paris to the bleak Louisiana landscape, Manon’s visual spectacle deepens the emotional impact of MacMillan’s choreography, immersing audiences in its richly drawn world.
Bookings: https://australianballet.com.au/performances/manon
