Royal Opera House logo

You can print the cast sheet by clicking the button below.
Please note that casting is subject to change up until the start of the performance. Please continue to check the website for the most up-to-date information.

THE ROYAL BALLET

Director

Kevin O'Hare CBE

Founder

Dame Ninette de Valois OM CH DBE

Founder Choreographer

Sir Frederick Ashton OM CH CBE

Founder Music Director

Constant Lambert

Prima Ballerina Assoluta

Dame Margot Fonteyn DBE

A co-production between The Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre

Season Principal Mrs Aline Foriel-Destezet

Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon generously supported by Kenneth and Susan Green

Generous philanthropic support from Julia and Hans Rausing, Mr and Mrs Edward Atkin CBE, Victoria Robey OBE, Charles Holloway, Richard and Delia Baker, John and Susan Burns OBE, Sue Butcher, Sir Lloyd and Lady Dorfman, David Fransen, Lindsay and Sarah Tomlinson, the Like Water for Chocolate Production Syndicate, the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund, the American Friends of Covent Garden and an anonymous philanthropist

The role of Tita is generously supported by Anna and Paul White MBE

The role of Pedro is generously supported by Rachael Stearns

The role of Mama Elena is generously supported by Derek and Sheila Watson

The role of Gertrudis is generously supported by Stephanie Tyrer

Like Water for Chocolate

Ballet in Three Acts

06.06.2022 19:30

This is the 4th performance by The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House. This evening The Royal Ballet fondly remembers its founder, Dame Ninette de Valois, born this day in 1898. The Company remain forever in debt to 'Madam' and her counsel to move forward as 'adventurous traditionalists'.

APPROXIMATE TIMINGS

The performance lasts about 2 hours 55 minutes, including two intervals.
Act I
55 minutes
Interval
30 minutes
Act II
35 minutes
Interval
30 minutes
Act III
25 minutes

GUIDANCE

Suitable for ages 12+

This performance contains sexual themes.

CREDITS

Choreography
Christopher Wheeldon
Scenario
Christopher Wheeldon and Joby Talbot
Inspired by the book by
Laura Esquivel
Music
Joby Talbot
Orchestrations
Ben Foskett
Designer
Bob Crowley
Lighting Designer
Natasha Katz
Video Designer
Luke Halls
Music consultant
Alondra de la Parra
Associate costume designer
Lynette Mauro
Associate set designer
Jaimie Todd
Assistants to the Choreographer
Jacquelin Barrett and Jason Fowler

CAST

Conducted by
Alondra de la Parra
Principal Guest Concert Master
Vasko Vassilev
Solo Guitar
Tomas Barreiro
Guest Singer
Sian Griffiths
Tita
Akane Takada
Mama Elena
Melissa Hamilton
Rosaura
Itziar Mendizabal
Gertrudis
Hannah Grennell
Pedro
Alexander Campbell
Dr John Brown
Reece Clarke
Nacha
Annette Buvoli
Juan Alejandrez
Benjamin Ella
Don Pasqual
Gary Avis
Chencha
Ashley Dean
Nacha's former lover
Harris Bell
Jose
Lukas B. Brændsrød
Elena's mother
Christina Arestis
Elena's father
Bennet Gartside
Elena's brothers
Kevin Emerton, Tomas Mock
Juan De la Garza
Nicol Edmonds
Esperanza
Jade Johnstone, Katharina Nikelski
Alex
Isaac Morgan, Harrison Lee
Priest
Philip Mosley
Ranch Workers
Sophie Allnatt, Leticia Dias, Ginevra Zambon, Mariko Sasaki, Téo Dubreuil, Calvin Richardson, Joseph Sissens, David Yudes

Brides, revolutionary soldiers and wedding guests Artists of The Royal Ballet

Students of The Royal Ballet School appear by kind permission of the Artistic Director Christopher Powney

The Story

Pedro: ‘I swear I will love you forever.’ 

Mama Elena: ‘You know perfectly well that being the youngest daughter means you have to take care of me until the day I die.’

Tita lives with her family on a ranch in Mexico. She falls in love with a boy, Pedro, who lives nearby, but when they want to marry, family tradition prevents it: Tita must remain unmarried in order to care for her mother. Tita’s love for cooking is such that her own emotions are transmitted to others through the food she prepares, and as her moods change in response to events in her life, the consequences for all those around her become ever more startling…

Read the full synopsis here

TITA

The youngest daughter of the De la Garza household, in love with Pedro but forbidden by family tradition to marry. She has a special gift for cooking.

PEDRO

The son of a neighbouring ranchero, in love with Tita. He marries her sister Rosaura in the hope of remaining close to Tita.

MAMA ELENA

The overbearing matriarch of the De la Garza household. She hides a secret.

DR JOHN BROWN

The family doctor from America. He loves Tita but her passionate feelings are reserved for Pedro.

NACHA

The wise old cook of the De la Garza household and Tita’s closest confidant. The two bond over their shared love of food and cooking.

ROSAURA

Tita’s sister. She marries Pedro but remains jealous of his close relationship with Tita.

GERTRUDIS

Tita’s other sister. She elopes with a revolutionary soldier, and later becomes a famous revolutionary commander.

JUAN ALEJANDREZ

A revolutionary soldier who marries Gertrudis.

ROBERTO

Pedro and Rosaura’s first child.

ESPERANZA

Pedro and Rosaura’s second child.

ALEX

The son of Dr John by his first wife.

DON PASQUAL

Pedro’s father and a neighbouring ranchero.

CHENCHA

The family maid.

THE ROYAL BALLET

Director

Kevin O'Hare CBE

Music Director

Koen Kessels

Resident Choreographer

Wayne McGregor CBE

Artistic Associate

Christopher Wheeldon OBE

Administrative Director

Heather Baxter

Rehearsal Director

Christopher Saunders

Clinical Director Ballet Healthcare

Shane Kelly

DIGITAL CAST SHEETS

We are working to make the Royal Opera House more sustainable. To do this, some of the ways in which we share information have changed, including cast sheets.

You can view the digital cast sheets on a computer, tablet or smartphone. You can also download and print the digital cast sheet. Check the digital cast sheet for the most up-to-date information before the performance starts, during the interval, or after the performance day.

Scan the QR codes displayed around the building with a smartphone to view the latest digital cast sheets. The cast sheets are also displayed on screens outside the auditoria.

Cast sheets generously supported by the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund.

SAFETY GUIDELINES

The safety of our visitors, staff and artists is still our priority and we continue to have strict cleaning regimes and enhanced ventilation in place. There are hand sanitiser stations throughout the building. To help us provide a comfortable experience for everyone, please be mindful of others and their personal space.

Wearing a face mask is no longer required, but staff and visitors are welcome to wear one.

SUPPORT OUR ONGOING RECOVERY

We are so glad to welcome our artists back to our theatres to perform for you the opera and ballet you love. During the pandemic we lost £3 in every £5 of our income and we continue to feel the impact as we recover. Sustaining the future of ballet and opera has never been so important. Please consider making a donation to the Royal Opera House community today and help support the future of ballet and opera.

 

roh.org.uk/donate