In an expanding world where digital communications progress and develop complexities, and even intimacies, how timely that Scottish Ballet aim to rejuvenate Léo Delibes’ darkly comedic tale of mischief and identity. Evolving from Coppélia origins, UK based creators, Jess & Morgs with Jeff
James’ dramaturgy intend to ask what precisely it means to be mortal in a digital age of artificial intelligence?

Taking the penultimate place in Scottish Ballet’s “five-in-five”, Coppélia will be the fourth production the company seek to create in their commitment to five brand-new full-length ballets in five years to commemorate their fiftieth birthday. Premiering at the Edinburgh International Festival 2022, before embarking on a national tour, Coppélia will be choreographed and directed by UK based duo Jess & Morgs set to Delibes’ score. 

Discussing the upcoming production, Jess & Morgs say: “Coppélia is a rich tale, both playful and dark, which asks questions about our obsession with technology and our own humanity. It’s a story fitting for our digital age and the perfect vehicle to continue our relationship with Scottish Ballet.”

It will come as no shock for those familiar with the Scottish Ballet that the company continually seek to push the boundaries of what we recognise as dance, theatre, and visual performance. Advancing from their successful foray into the realms of film with The Secret Theatre, Coppélia will blend location-based film with real-time projection and live performance.

Of course, no performance of Scottish Ballet would be complete without a rousing appearance form the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, performing a new arrangement of Delibes’ score. All while Jessica Wright and Morgann Runacre-Temple look to explore the ever-expanding relationship with reality through various techniques and playful manipulations of film, cameras to achieve a unique experience for a live audience.

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Speaking of the longstanding relationship EIF and Scottish Ballet share, EIF artistic director Fergus Linehan adds: “Everyone at the International Festival is delighted to build on our longstanding relationship with Scottish Ballet. In recent years they have presented the fulllength ballet version of The Crucible (2019) and Catalyst (2020), a digital performance made exclusively for our My Light Shines On season.”

Coppélia has already stirred an impact as Scottish Ballet and EIF are delighted to inform us that Coppélia has been shortlisted for the 2021 FEDORA Ballet Prize – the FEDORA platform supports excellence and seeks to showcase the fields of ballet and opera, with a mission to increase accessibility amongst audiences. 

Scottish Ballet CEO and artistic director Christopher Hampson remarks that: “We are delighted to be presenting the world premiere of Coppélia at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2022. As a company we are committed to continuing to push the boundaries of technology within our work through digital creativity and live performance. We are thrilled to be building on our collaboration with filmmakers Jess and Morgs, and excited to combine elements of digital and dance, as we present the two live onstage.”

Scheduled to be presented during the 2022 Edinburgh International, all dates, times and additional information will be published at a later date.

Photo Credit – Scottish Ballet Digital Season & Mihaela Bodlovic