Like Water for Chocolate

Images © Tristram Kenton

“Having Christopher and his team transform my story into a ballet is truly magical for me. It was a great pleasure to have them visit Mexico for extensive research and to develop the scenario together. I am amazed at how Christopher can translate deep emotions into movement, and I can’t wait to see this wonderful creative adventure unfold.”
- Author Laura Esquivel

"The Royal Ballet’s Like Water for Chocolate is a sprawling, sensual feast." 
-The Telegraph

“Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon weaves multiple generations and jealousies into a swift and stylish narrative." 
-The Independent

Background

Inspired by the book by Laura Esquivel. A modern Mexican classic of magic realism provides the basis for The Royal Ballet’s new full-length work, reuniting Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon with the creative team who transformed Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Winter’s Tale into dance, composer Joby Talbot and designer Bob Crowley.

Journey into Laura Esquivel’s captivating family saga where the central character’s emotions spill out through cooking to influence everyone around her in startling and dramatic ways. In this co-production with American Ballet Theatre, Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra acts as musical consultant for Talbot’s newly commissioned score, with Wheeldon working closely with Esquivel to reshape her richly layered story as an entertaining and engrossing new ballet.

Synopsis

Tita lives with her family on a ranch in Mexico. She falls in love with a boy, Pedro, who lives nearby, but when they want to marry, family precedent prevents it: Tita must remain unmarried in order to care for her mother. Tita’s love for cooking is such that her own emotions are transmitted to others through the food she prepares, and as her moods change in response to events in her life, the consequences for all those around her become ever more startling. Read the full synopsis here.

Creative Team

Choreography
Christopher Wheeldon

Scenario
Christopher Wheeldon & Joby Talbot

Inspired by the Book by
Laura Esquivel

Music
Joby Talbot

Orchestrations
Ben Foskett

Designer
Bob Crowley

Lighting Designer
Natasha Katz

Video Designer
Luke Halls

Music Consultant
Alondra de la Parra

Associate Set Designer
Jamie Todd

Associate Costume Designer
Lynette Mauro

Assistants to the Choreographer
Jacquelin Barrett & Jason Fowler

World Premiere: June 2022, The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera House, London, UK.
US Premiere: March 2023, American Ballet Theatre, Segerstrom Center for the Arts