The Scandal at Mayerling

The evening

Renowned for pushing the boundaries of performance, this is Scottish Ballet at its most fearless.

Vienna, 1889: behind the glittering facade of the Habsburg court, Crown Prince Rudolf is spiralling. Trapped by duty, isolated within his own family, and increasingly consumed by addiction and despair, he moves through a world of splendour that offers him everything… except the freedom he craves. When the young Mary Vetsera is drawn into his turbulent world, their intense connection accelerates a descent towards the infamous tragedy at the Mayerling hunting lodge, a scandal the monarchy fought to conceal. The Scandal at Mayerling pulls us into Rudolf’s fractured psyche. His turmoil spills into every corner of his world, shaping the way he moves, reacts and reaches for meaning. The women around him are forces in their own right: a mother shaped by duty, a wife negotiating constraint, a mistress alert to the gathering danger, and Mary, determined and headstrong, yet far younger than the world she enters. The turmoil coursing through Rudolf’s world erupts in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s demanding, visceral choreography, driving dancers to their physical and emotional limits. In this two-act reimagining of MacMillan’s celebrated masterpiece Mayerling, the focus sharpens on a prince collapsing under the weight of expectation. Elin Steele’s sumptuous set and costume designs create a world of opulence and unease that mirrors Rudolf’s unravelling. Franz Liszt’s sweeping Romantic score, performed live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, amplifies the drama with surging power. Content Warning: This production includes themes of suicide, addiction, coercive relationships, violence and mental distress. Recommended for ages 15+.

Running time: approx 2 hours including interval