Mayerling Tickets

This 1978 ballet reimagines the real-life scandal of the murder-suicide of Crown Prince Rudolf and his mistress Mary Vetsera, also known as the 'Mayerling incident' or the 'Mayerling affair'. In the Austro-Hungarian court, Crown Prince Rudolf is obsessed with the idea of his own death, unable to find solace in his friends or family, comforted only by the beautiful Baroness Mary Vetsera. Mary is equally fascinated by the morbid and macabre, and the two begin meeting in secret, seeking to escape the oppressive conventions and pageantry of court life. But as desire intervenes with death, their clandestine love affair seems poised for tragedy.

Kenneth MacMillan's psychologically thrilling ballet is inspired by true events, spinning a story of desire, family secrets, and political intrigue as a royal scandal unravels. It paints a harrowing picture of the depths of the human psyche, set against the opulent decadence of the Austro-Hungarian court, in a story of passion, scandal, and an obsession with death. The story of this mysterious double suicide at the Mayerling hunting lodge has been retold across film and popular culture, and MacMillan tackles it with his signature unflinching boldness, exploring the social and political pressures at the heart of this historical tragedy. Spectacular, colourful, and filled with luxurious sets and costumes, Mayerling is a feast to the senses that will immerse you in this dark, disturbing story.

Book now and lose yourself in a terrifying piece of history with this dark, passionate ballet about desire and death.