A new production of the ballet ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ arrives on stageBallet — 10. April 2026.
The Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb announces the premiere of the ballet The Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, to be held on 10 April 2026. This new production, choreographed by Paul Chalmer, offers a contemporary, visually sumptuous interpretation of one of the cornerstones of the classical ballet repertoire.
The Sleeping Beauty holds an important place in the history of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, where it was first performed in 1950 and has, over the decades, continually returned to the repertoire as one of the key titles of classical ballet.
This new production arrives at a moment of strong artistic momentum for the Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, which over the past four seasons has recorded continuous growth in quality as well as exceptional audience interest, as confirmed by the fact that all performances have been sold out for months, emphasises the General Manager and Artistic Director, Iva Hraste Sočo, PhD.
The choreographer Paul Chalmer, an internationally acclaimed artist, first staged this version of the ballet in Rome in 2002, where it achieved notable success with both audiences and critics. In the Zagreb production, Chalmer signs both choreography and direction, while the set and costume design is by Anna Kontek. The entire Ballet ensemble of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb performs in the production, including all principals and soloists, delivering a demanding and stylistically refined interpretation of the score.
Ahead of the premiere, the Ballet Director Massimiliano Volpini emphasises: The Sleeping Beauty is one of the key works of the classical ballet repertoire and an important artistic challenge for any company. This production confirms the high level of our Ballet, as well as the continuous development of the ensemble. It is a major project that brings together top-level dance performance with a high production standard.
The Sleeping Beauty, first performed in 1890 in Saint Petersburg, is still considered one of the pinnacles of classical ballet and an indispensable part of the international repertoire.
