By Cathy Marston
With Les Grands Ballets Orchestra
In post-World War I England, frozen in its social hierarchies and rigid moral codes, Constance Chatterley feels suffocated in a marriage devoid of physical intimacy and desire. Her encounter with Mellors, the estate’s gamekeeper, opens an unexpected breach in her carefully circumscribed life. Between them grows a relationship as intense as it is unlikely, a love that defies convention and unsettles the established order.
Inspired by the iconic novel by D. H. Lawrence, long censored for its audacity, British choreographer Cathy Marston has created a powerful narrative ballet of rare emotional depth. With finesse and humanity, she explores the impulses of the body, the longing for freedom, and the reclaiming of desire as a vital necessity.
Through dance that is both intimate and deeply sensitive, Lady Chatterley tells the story of a love that dares to exist outside the norm, and reminds us that freedom often begins with the courage to listen to one’s own heart.
This ensemble comprises 55 highly skilled musicians and soloists. Our orchestra has been playing a major role in the success of Les Grands Ballets for over 30 years.
ACT I
The Great War comes to an end, and men return to their jobs in the mines and factories, overseen by Sir Clifford Chatterley, the local landowner, who has been injured in battle. He selects one of the men, Mellors, to be his new game-keeper. Bertha, Mellors’ former wife, taunts him and he tries to avoid her.
At Chatterley’s home, Wragby Hall, his wife, Lady ‘Connie’ Chatterley, is entertaining her sister Hilda and her friend from London, Michaelis. Connie is listless, at odds with the world. She remembers her early life with Clifford, before he became disabled.
Out for a walk with Michaelis and Hilda, Connie decides to make her way through the woods alone. She comes upon Mellors washing himself. They both feel a physical attraction to one another, which they back away from.
At the hall Connie tries to be ‘a good wife’. Hilda insists that she needs help and so introduces a housekeeper, Mrs Bolton, who takes charge of Clifford’s daily needs.
Out walking, Connie meets Mellors again. Once more they are drawn together, although both experience some misgivings. Connie returns home to find Clifford quite happy in the hands of Mrs Bolton.
Connie and Mellors feel unable to resist one another; abandoning their fear and resistance, they come together physically and emotionally.
ACT II
Alone in his cottage, Mellors is thinking about Connie when Bertha appears. Unseen by him she finds Connie’s nightdress in the cottage.
When Bertha has left, Mellors remembers his early life with her.
Connie arrives and tells Mellors she is pregnant with his child. As Connie leaves, she is spotted by Bertha and a group of miners, who set upon Mellors and drag him to the hall to confront Clifford with the affair. Mellors is sacked.
Clifford comes to Connie. She tells him she is pregnant. He becomes enraged. Mrs Bolton consoles Clifford while Connie prepares to leave with Hilda.
At Mellors’ cottage, Connie wants to introduce Hilda and Mellors. His antagonism towards Hilda offends Connie. The two women leave, Hilda insisting that Connie’s relationship with Mellors is not a viable future for her. Faced with this confrontation Connie returns to Mellors.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Total duration: 2h
LES GRANDS BALLETS
