Leeton Shire Council is thrilled to showcase a free broadcast of the Australian premiere of Ballet Preljocaj's Swan Lake at the Roxy Community Theatre on Sunday 15 June 2025 at 2pm, which was filmed during the exclusive Brisbane season at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre's (QPAC) Lyric Theatre.
This event is brought to Leeton for free by the Queensland Performing Arts Centre but please note there is a $2 per person Roxy ticketing cost for securing your seat.
Leeton Shire Council's Manager Cultural Services, Emma Di Muzio, said, "Leetonians and others across the entire Riverina will be able to experience Ballet Preljocaj's unique style and cultural impact without flying to Brisbane or France. Ballet Preljocaj is one of the best dance companies in the world at what they do, and this opportunity will ensure as many people as possible in our region have the opportunity to experience their work."
Founded in 1985 by maverick French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, the Aix-en-Provence-based Ballet Preljocaj last wowed audiences in Queensland in 2016 with the sell-out season of Snow White at QPAC and is world renowned for warping the experience of ballet.
The contemporary ballet company is fueled by Preljocaj's propensity for collaboration, with a roll call of artistic partnerships boasting the likes of costumes by Jean Paul Gaultier and Azzedine Alaïa to scores by Thomas Bangalter (Daft Punk) and Nicolas Godin (Air).
Famed for his iconoclastic deconstruction of great story ballets, Preljocaj's Swan Lake is a dystopian juxtaposition of corporate greed – in which Siegfried is the son of a wealthy property developer – and the pristine environment of the swans, which sees Odette and the Prince as eco-warriors battling the fossil-fueled industrialist Rothbart.
While he has leaned on some elements of Marius Pepita and Lev Ivanov's original choreography, this is Swan Lake reimagined by Preljocaj with 'audacity and respect' and challenges ballet norms with a run time of less than two hours with no interval.
To extend the reach of the Australian premiere season at QPAC, Leeton's Roxy Community Theatre will join 17 venues around Queensland to host special screenings of Ballet Preljocaj's Swan Lake, with music by Queensland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Johannes Fritzsch, performed and recorded in Brisbane.
Cr Michael Kidd, Deputy Mayor and Portfolio Lead for Arts and Culture, said, "We are absolutely thrilled to bring this extraordinary production of Swan Lake to our community, right here at the Roxy. Ballet Preljocaj's daring reinterpretation of a timeless classic is not only a stunning artistic achievement but also a powerful commentary on the world we live in. It's a rare privilege for regional audiences to access international-calibre performances like this, and I encourage everyone – whether you're a seasoned ballet enthusiast or simply curious – to come along and experience something truly special."
QPAC Chief Executive, Rachel Healy, said, "Angelin and Ballet Preljocaj completely throw out the rules of ballet, and whether you are witnessing their magic in the theatre or on the big screen, I am confident audiences will be challenged and inspired by this new interpretation of a masterpiece."
The Roxy Community Theatre is very grateful to QPAC for providing Leeton and the Riverina with this fantastic opportunity.
To make a booking please visit the Roxy website.
