After captivating Sydney audiences with its sultry and raw emotion, The Australian Ballet is thrilled to bring Johan Inger’s contemporary Carmen to Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in 2025.
This award-winning production offers a fresh, emotionally charged perspective on the classic and seductive tale of obsession, betrayal, and tragic love. Following the roots of Prosper Mérimée’s 1845 novella, which was later immortalised in Georges Bizet’s iconic 1875 opera, Inger’s Carmen distils the story to its elemental themes.
This modern adaptation follows guard Don José as his obsession with the defiant and enigmatic Carmen spirals into madness, culminating in tragedy. The production captures the fiery passion and drama of the original narrative.
The Australian Ballet’s Melbourne season of Carmen will feature Orchestra Victoria performing Bizet’s famous score, bringing Carmen’s passion and drama to life through music.
“Johan Inger’s Carmen brings a fresh perspective to this iconic story, set to the music we all know and love. It’s a powerful tale of passion, betrayal, and obsession that draws audiences into Carmen’s world,” said Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, David Hallberg.
“Inger’s vision is gritty and unapologetically raw, confronting cycles of domestic violence and challenging traditional ideas of masculinity. Our dancers rise to the demands of this contemporary masterpiece with remarkable versatility and emotional depth.”
Carmen is Inger’s first full-length ballet, originally commissioned by the Compañía Nacional de Danza in Madrid where it premiered in 2015 and later won the ballet world equivalent of an Oscar: The Prix Benois de la Danse in 2016.
Inger’s striking production places the action in a contemporary setting, stripping back the story to its fundamental elements of obsession and betrayal. This fresh perspective promises to be an emotionally charged experience that captures the fiery Spanish passion that defines the original narrative. The subversive and seductive titular character is a dream role for female artists, calling for both technical mastery and acting prowess.
“When crafting this ballet, I wanted to infuse the classical narrative with a contemporary spirit, allowing the audiences of today to experience Carmen in a way that feels both timeless and relevant,” said choreographer Johan Inger.
“Carmen is a tale rich in intensity and complexity, making it the perfect canvas for artistic exploration. Collaborating with David Hallberg and The Australian Ballet dancers to bring this intricate choreography to life has been an absolute delight.”
Inger initially trained and worked as a dancer in Sweden and Canada, and a fascination with the works of Jiří Kylián drew him to Nederlands Dans Theater, where Kylián was Artistic Director. Inger joined Nederlands Dance Theater as a dancer in 1990 and danced with the company for 12 years.
During that time, his talent for choreography became clear and Inger created many works for the company and later held the position of Associate Choreographer from 2009 and 2016.
Carmen has been adapted numerous times since its publication; including the 1915 silent film by Cecil B. DeMille, Otto Preminger’s 1954 musical film Carmen Jones, and a loose interpretation in the 2022 film from French dancer Benjamin Millepied.
Inger’s Carmen cements the narrative in modern day with athletic choreography and a minimalist set design. An ingenious set design by Curt Allen Wilmer and Leticia Gañan features three-sided prisms shifting through different configurations, with concrete, textured and mirrored surfaces obscuring and reflecting the characters. Combined with artful lighting design by Tom Visser, the sparse staging foregrounds the emotional turmoil driving the central characters.
Costumes by David Delfín update the 19th-century story for a contemporary setting, with ruffled Spanish skirts replaced by tiered mini dresses, the soldiers’ aesthetic channelling corporate executives, and the celebrated matador wearing a spangled costume evoking rock star glamour.
Through the artistry of contemporary dance, this thrilling work pays homage to Mérimée’s literary legacy and marks an exciting entry in The Australian Ballet’s 2025 Season.
Carmen
Regent Theatre, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne
Season: 7 – 18 March 2025
Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au
Following its Melbourne season, Carmen will be staged at the Canberra Theatre Centre from 20 – 25 June, accompanied by Canberra Symphony Orchestra. For more information, visit: www.australianballet.com.au for details.
Image: Jill Ogai and Callum Linnane in Carmen – photo by Daniel Boud