Swan Lake

About Swan Lake

Swan Lake is a ballet performed at the London Coliseum by the State Ballet of Georgia, running for 12 performances this July. The production is staged under the artistic direction of Nina Ananiashvili, a former prima ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet, and follows a sold-out London season in 2024. Tchaikovsky's score underpins the full narrative: Prince Siegfried falls in love with Odette, the Swan Queen, while the sorcerer Rothbart works against them, a story that has defined classical ballet since the work's 19th-century origins.

The State Ballet of Georgia bring sumptuous sets and elaborate costumes to the production, with a company described by The New York Times as "versatile and accomplished". The running time is 2 hours and 10 minutes, including one interval.

What to expect

Audiences follow the full four-act narrative, from the lakeside pas de deux between Siegfried and Odette to the dramatic confrontation with Rothbart in the final act. The dual role of Odette and Odile, the black swan, sits at the centre of the choreography, requiring both technical precision and dramatic range from the lead ballerina. Tickets cover allocated seating at the London Coliseum, with the schedule spread across 12 dates in July. The production is suitable for ages 5 and above, and children under 5 are not admitted to the auditorium.

The London Coliseum and getting there

The London Coliseum opened in 1904, designed by architect Frank Matcham, and is the largest theatre in the West End with a capacity of around 2,359 seats. It serves as the permanent home of English National Opera and sits on St Martin's Lane in Covent Garden, a short walk from Charing Cross and Leicester Square stations. For more performances and events at the venue, see the London Coliseum schedule, or browse the wider range of things to do in London for further options in the city.