A powerful new ballet exploring ambition, identity and the charged legacy of two queens
Choreographed by Scottish Ballet Choreographer in Residence Sophie Laplane – her first full-length narrative ballet – and created with director James Bonas (The Crucible)
New York, NY — Scottish Ballet brings the acclaimed production of Mary, Queen of Scots to New York for its premiere at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, June 4–7, 2026, following its celebrated world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival and US Premiere at Spoleto Festival. Told through the eyes of Queen Elizabeth I of England, the ballet reframes her perceived and imagined relationship with Mary, Queen of Scots, as she revisits her past in the final hours of her life. Tickets are on sale, with prices starting at $45, at https://www.davidhkochtheater.com/tickets-and-events/mary-queen-of-scots.
Revisiting one of history’s most charged relationships — the fraught dynamic between Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I — Mary, Queen of Scots, unfolds through movement that carries both majesty and vulnerability. The ballet blends historical record with imaginative interpretation to illuminate the woman behind the legend — her intelligence, ambition, heartbreak and fierce resilience. With striking design, a live orchestral score and inventive theatricality, the work captures the tension between power and faith, loyalty and loss, revealing the private cost of public authority and the human story beneath a centuries-old myth. Rooted in Scotland’s cultural heritage yet crafted with a contemporary sensibility, the ballet resonates with themes as urgent today as they were in Mary’s time.
“The story of Mary, Queen of Scots, is iconic and part of our heritage in Scotland. It’s been told many times before, but rarely in dance. Scottish Ballet produced a version way back in the 70s, so I thought it was timely for us to look at that story again, and who better to do so than our resident choreographer Sophie Laplane,” said Scottish Ballet CEO and Artistic Director Christopher Hampson. “Sophie’s take on the Mary/Elizabeth relationship is incredibly fresh — there’s a real playfulness in the way she’s working with the story and the characters. It’s a familiar story to us all, but it will be told in a very new way, which is so Scottish Ballet.”
The production is choreographed by Scottish Ballet Choreographer in Residence Sophie Laplane — her first full-length narrative work — and created in collaboration with director James Bonas (The Crucible). It features designs by award-winning set and costume designer Soutra Gilmour, whose Broadway and West End credits include Merrily We Roll Along, & Juliet, Sunset Boulevard, Romeo & Juliet, Into The Woods and The Tempest.
The original score, composed by Mikael Karlsson and Michael P Atkinson, reunites the acclaimed creative team behind Scottish Ballet’s 2022 Edinburgh International Festival hit Coppélia. The score will be performed live by the New York City Ballet Orchestra.
PERFORMANCE HISTORY & TOURING
World Premiere: Edinburgh International Festival — August 2025
Scottish Tour:
• Glasgow, Theatre Royal — September 17–20, 2025
• Eden Court Highlands, Inverness — September 26–27, 2025
• Aberdeen, His Majesty’s Theatre — October 2–4, 2025
London Premiere Sadler’s Wells: March 5–8, 2026
U.S. Premiere: Spoleto Festival USA — May 2026
New York Premiere: David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center — June 4–7, 2026
CREATION & SUPPORT
The creation of Mary, Queen of Scots was supported by the Bently Foundation, which enabled Scottish Ballet to track the production’s carbon footprint and advance sustainable practices in both creation and touring. The work was also generously supported by patrons of the Five in Five Campaign, launched in 2019 to commission and stage five new full-length ballets in five years. This production is the fifth and final ballet in the series, following The Crucible, The Snow Queen, The Scandal at Mayerling and Coppélia.
ABOUT SCOTTISH BALLET
Founded in 1969, Scottish Ballet is Scotland’s national dance company. Based in Glasgow, the company performs regularly across Scotland, throughout the UK and internationally — sharing Scotland’s pioneering spirit with audiences around the world. Under CEO and Artistic Director Christopher Hampson, Scottish Ballet presents bold, adventurous performances rooted in strong classical technique and accompanied by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra. Its broad repertoire includes reimagined classics and innovative new commissions for both stage and screen. Scottish Ballet’s extensive engagement program supports diverse communities across Scotland, promoting confidence, wellbeing and creativity through dance. The company is funded by the Scottish Government. For more information, visit scottishballet.co.uk.
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High-resolution photos are available for download here: Mary, Queen of Scots_Scottish Ballet