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  • Your Reaction: What did you think of Woolf Works 2017?

Your Reaction: What did you think of Woolf Works 2017?

Audience reactions to the revival of Wayne McGregor's ballet triptych based on the life and writings of Virginia Woolf.

By Mel Spencer (Senior Editor (Social Media))

23 January 2017 at 1.22pm | 26 Comments

Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae in Woolf Works ©2015 ROH. Photograph by Tristram KentonNatalia Osipova and Steven McRae in Woolf Works ©2015 ROH. Photograph by Tristram Kenton

Production photo of Wayne McGregor's Woolf Works ©2015 ROH. Photograph by Tristram KentonProduction photo of Wayne McGregor's Woolf Works ©2015 ROH. Photograph by Tristram Kenton

Woolf Works, The Royal Ballet © 2015 ROH. Photograph by Tristram KentonWoolf Works, The Royal Ballet © 2015 ROH. Photograph by Tristram Kenton

Press Reviews:
The Stage ★★★★★
Telegraph ★★★★
The Times  ★★★★
Independent ★★★★
Financial Times ★★★

Read the reactions to Woolf Works 2015

What did you think of Woolf Works?
Add your reaction in the comments.

Woolf Works runs from 21 January – 14 February 2017. Tickets are still available.

This production is given with generous philanthropic support from The Tsukanov Family Foundation.

By Mel Spencer (Senior Editor (Social Media))

23 January 2017 at 1.22pm

This article has been categorised Ballet and tagged by Wayne McGregor, Max Richter, Production, review, Social Media, Woolf Works, your reaction

This article has 26 comments

  1. Nick Byrne responded on 23 January 2017 at 1:55pm Reply

    As wonderful as I remembered from 2015. Parts 1 & 3 moving to the point of pain. Part 2 even more enjoyable as I get it for the amazing romp it is. Feel privileged to have seen it.

  2. Nick responded on 23 January 2017 at 7:29pm Reply

    The greatest artwork I have ever experienced and, like Nick Byrne, even better than my memory of the first run. I saw it twice first time around, and twice on Saturday. It seems unfair to single people out but I thought Matthew Ball and Yasmine Naghdi were sublime in Act I of the matinée - indeed, I felt I couldn't move from my seat for a good ten minutes at the end of Act I, and would have welcomed a dark, quiet room to further reflect on what I had just seen and felt I had been involved with.

    Come the evening performance, Alessandra Ferri was simply exquisite; Natalia Osipova so powerful; the entire cast entirely warranted the standing ovation.

    And now I look forward to a further three performances - a thing I have never before been tempted to do but I am almost wondering just how I will survive after the final night.

    Congratulations and many thanks to everyone involved for making such a profoundly moving work of art.

  3. polly evaristo responded on 23 January 2017 at 8:53pm Reply

    Is there any reason why Matthew Ball who is apparently dancing Septimus in the second cast does not get a mention in the cast list?

    • Rose Slavin (Former Assistant Content Producer) responded on 7 February 2017 at 2:56pm

      Hi Polly,
      Thanks for noticing this and for flagging to us. This error has now been corrected.
      All best wishes,
      Rose

  4. Charles N responded on 24 January 2017 at 2:58pm Reply

    This is a stunning work that has so many layers of meaning, and somehow manages to be subtle, riotous, nuanced and expressionist, all at the same time. It combines the very detailed and intimate with the grand and extrovert. I loved it in 2015, when I knew nothing about Virginia Woolf. Since then I have read and learnt much about Woolf's work (as it were), and found many more levels of meaning as a result. I agree with Nick that, like all great works of art, this is a ballet that will force you to reflect afterwards on many different aspects of life and existence. (I had to sit in Balthazar rather stunned for a good half hour after the performance finished).
    This ballet really is a gift from Wayne McGregor - it is visually stunning, deeply moving, and intellectually stimulating: you are both inside and outside of the mind of Woolf. While I have really enjoyed Wayne's one act works (Multiverse and Obsidian Tear particularly), the full length ballet feels like something that really allows him space to develop and explore fully themes and subjects, and takes his work to a different level altogether. This is a very mature work.
    Very much looking forward to seeing this again later in the run, and hopefully more full length ballets from Wayne and his team. James Joyce, anyone?

  5. Denise responded on 4 February 2017 at 8:22pm Reply

    Saw Woolf Works today. Absolutely fabulous. Totally spellbound.

  6. Ian G responded on 4 February 2017 at 9:54pm Reply

    Another performance from the Royal Ballet with amplified (indeed over-amplified) music.

    Am I the only person who finds this unacceptable?

  7. Alison Tremeer responded on 8 February 2017 at 10:51pm Reply

    Absolutely stunning performance, powerful emotive thought provoking just extraordinarily brilliant

  8. Martin Cody responded on 9 February 2017 at 5:32pm Reply

    Saw streamed version of Woolf Works yesterday evening. I was part of a 'Sleeping Beauty' kind of audience I think; lots of muttering about not understanding the programme notes and 'should have read up' on Woolf beforehand . Thankfully, everyone riveted by the intensity of the dance and music. I really admired the physicality of the movements and the flow between solos, duets,trios, quartets and ensemble dances. Personally, I was more immersed in Part 1 and Part 3 because the emotionality felt true. Orlando did not have sufficent structure. The 'futuristic' look of the costumes and and the 'futuristic' sounds of the music at times was a little bit too Flash Gordon for me.

  9. Angie Ruth responded on 9 February 2017 at 7:01pm Reply

    Please put this on dvd. I bought the cd of the music, but no cinemas near me in the US had the live broadcast. I buy all your dvds when you release them...please let me add this one to my collection.

    • Noelia Moreno responded on 10 February 2017 at 10:36am

      Hi Angie,

      I’m happy to announce that there are plans to make a Woolf Works DVD, although we don’t have a release date yet. Our international distributors continue trying to increase the number of cinemas showing our content in the US. Hopefully there'll be a cinema near you soon.

      Best wishes,
      Noelia

    • Rebecca Tall responded on 12 February 2017 at 3:22pm

      Delighted to hear - from the response to this enquiry - that there is to be a DVD.

  10. Diana Cosgrove responded on 11 February 2017 at 12:40pm Reply

    I saw the live stream on Wednesday and still thinking about Woolf Works today. I don't normally use language like this but I can't think of any more suitable words other than devastatingly splendid to begin to describe it. Thank you to all the many talented people involved in this production.

  11. natascha lancaster responded on 11 February 2017 at 8:31pm Reply

    Brilliant all the way through. Thank you.

  12. Daniel Opila responded on 12 February 2017 at 6:18am Reply

    Woolf Works ballet choreographed by genius of nowadays Wayne McGregor takes us beyond this universe to paralleled word of anormous imagination of emotions and feelings which everyone is left with their soul to look on them self. Use of dance emalgameted with beautiful music, lights and scenography gives us emotions out of this world, takes us beyond by presenting in front on our very eyes butiful journey through pages of Virginal Woolf'f books, her mind and our emotions. This is the biggest and most important ballet of XXI century and I'm so happy to be a humble witness of this miracle.
    Daniel

  13. Ruth Lawn responded on 12 February 2017 at 8:48am Reply

    Absolutely loved the production, the choreography, the music, staging, costumes... it was so interesting, moving, joyful. I came with my daughters and it is something we will remember and talk about for ages. Inspiring.

  14. Rebecca Tall responded on 12 February 2017 at 3:25pm Reply

    Seen for the fourth time on the Sat11th Feb matinee. Still exhausted today - the nuances have so many more resonances and greater depth on each viewing. A masterpiece for all involved.

    Question: Is there to be sheet music released (ideally for piano) - I would love to play many of the beautiful pieces, and it would also be wonderful for my violinist son to duet with me.

    One more question - could you kindly tell me about Vassiliev's violin - hearing him live is astounding and always reduces my husband and myself to tears that any sound so beautiful can be produced.

    Thanks to all concerned, a triumph.

  15. Brian responded on 14 February 2017 at 11:52am Reply

    Mara Galeazzi was sublime in Woolf Works last night. We've been lucky to see both her and Alessandra Ferri in this role. It's Wayne McGregor's best work by some distance - can't wait to see it again.

  16. Emma Fidler responded on 16 March 2017 at 11:01pm Reply

    Even now - weeks later - I keep thinking about Woolf Works..... mesmerising music and dance. Beautiful. I listen to the cd a lot.... very happy to read you are bringing out a DVD.... how will we know when it becomes available? And do you have any plans to stage the production again?

    • Rose Slavin (Former Assistant Content Producer) responded on 17 March 2017 at 4:28pm

      Hi Emma,
      Very glad to hear you enjoyed Woolf Works so much.
      Details of the upcoming Season are always announced in April and we'll post DVD releases on our social media channels as and when, so do keep an eye on them for further updates.
      Thanks!
      Rose

  17. Gary Wood responded on 14 April 2017 at 9:29pm Reply

    Thank you for the opportunity to see the screening of Woolf Works in Sydney. May I also add my praise and respect for all parties to the production.The scenes depicted so poignantly translated the words on paper to clear images redolent of the deep understanding that Virginia had of joy, whimsy and heart wrenching pain: the images of Sally and Virginia, Septimus and Clarissa in their existential fog, and of Virginia and her buoying Leonard, are powerful demonstrations of a respectful translation of art from one medium to another. I patiently await the DVD to relive the joy. Thank you all, Gary

  18. Fred Rutter responded on 9 July 2017 at 9:42pm Reply

    Have just watched the performance on BBC4. Liked Part One, Mrs Dalloway, best. Pleased to see that the whole Corps de Ballet was actively involved, but it was difficult to concentrate on individual performances. However, what a privilege and pleasure to see that great ballerina Alessandra Ferri again (surely the best Juliette of her generation). I think it's outrageous that the final credits whisked past at such a speed that nobody could read any of the names. Surely Principal and Soloists deserve more respect and should have been highlighted.

  19. Mia jones responded on 21 March 2018 at 12:44am Reply

    Saw it in 2015 but regrettably missed it last year. Had a visceral reaction to Part Two - the vibrancy of movement, costumes and sound brought me to tears by the end.

    Would love to see it again, taking along a numbers of friends, so am constantly checking ROH’s schedule and I pray it will be in next year’s.

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