Svengali at National Arts Centre

Mark Godden’s choreographic genius brings us an explosive new look at the original master of mind control. RW B’s newest creation takes its inspiration from a film treatment born from the fevered imagination of international film sensation Guy Maddin. Svengali escapes the repression of his mother’s ballet studio to a decadent world reminiscent of mid-century Weimar, where he finds the beautiful and malleable young dancer, Trilby. Under Svengali’s entrancing influence, Trilby is transformed into the darling of the ballet world, but her star ultimately rises beyond Svengali’s powerful emotional grasp. This complex psychological drama will unfold with riveting choreography by the creative powerhouse behind RW B’s Dracula, and shades of Maddinesque irreverence, as Svengali’s deepest family secrets are revealed.