The Twelve

For the creators of the performance, The Twelve by Alexander Blok prompted a reflection on the concept that, at times, individuals might bring about hell on Earth through their own actions. The directors deliberately abstain from setting a specific time frame, emphasizing that the unfolding events could be situated in 1918 or the present day. "The poem isn't centered around the revolution or characters like Katka, Petka, or Vanka, but instead, it underscores the periodic human tendency to wreak havoc in the world," shares choreographer Alexander Sergeev. Rather than providing a direct illustration of the poem, he fuses music, dance, and spoken word in his rendition. The ballet The Twelve was originally composed by Boris Tishchenko for the Kirov (Mariinsky) Opera and Ballet Theatre in the early 1960s, it was presented with the choreography by Leonid Yakobson. Alexander Sergeev is now offering a refreshed interpretation of Tishchenko's composition, augmenting the ballet's score with three songs set to Tsvetaeva's verses.

The production is recipient of the Golden Sofit, St Petersburg’s most prestigious theatre prize, in the category “Best Ballet Production”