Scottish Ballet is delighted to announce that acclaimed choreographer Stephen Petronio has chosen to set new production Ride The Beast (a world premiere) to the music of Radiohead.  As an avid fan of their music, Petronio has selected five tracks spanning Radiohead’s career to complement the layered complexity and primal nature of his new work.   The work will be performed at the Playhouse as part of the Edinburgh International Festival from 18 to 20 August 2007 inclusive.  (See EIF's website at http://www.eif.co.uk .)

Opening with the detached electronica of Fitter Happier (from the hugely acclaimed 1997 album OK Computer, which regularly places high in best album of all time polls), Ride The Beast showcases many sides of Radiohead: an acoustic version of anthemic single Creep from 1994’s My Iron Lung EP; clipped instrumental Hunting Bears (from 2001’s Amnesiac); the dreamy surge of Idioteque and the throbbing, brass-drenched National Anthem (both from 2000’s Kid A).

This exciting soundtrack follows in Petronio’s tradition of choreographing to modern music. Previous Petronio works have seen him forge innovative artistic partnerships with Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, James Lavelle and Wire as well as working with photographer Cindy Sherman, sculptor Anish Kapoor, and fashion provocateur Leigh Bowery.

Speaking about his choice of music, Petronio says, “Radiohead's music is a brilliant investigation of achingly modern taste. They sail through genre and form effortlessly and passionately, and their music demands a physical response from me that by-passes reason. I have to live with music so intimately while creating with it I simply have to work with music that I love. Radiohead has been at the top of my list for a very long time.

“I have chosen the songs for Ride The Beast for various reasons: personal pleasure, their ability to propel, a desire to hit some peaks in the Radiohead's history, and ultimately their ability to shape a world I wanted to move these dancers through,” he continues. “While I have had a field day with every song, National Anthem holds particular relish for me as one who has always been suspect of jazz, particularly in tandem with my choreography. The hysterical and searingly driven horns would not let me rest. And in the end Creep, their first hit, is a personal anthem and sung with such animal passion that it was just too good to pass up.”

“When you ask Stephen Petronio to create a new work for your Company you expect something bold and provocative,” says Artistic Director Ashley Page. “When he chooses to set that work to music by Radiohead it makes perfect sense, because the sonic landscapes and layered textures of the groups' music are a perfect ally for the choreographic language Stephen has been developing throughout his dazzling career. Both dance and music here are absorbed in exploring these landscapes, the one enriching the other as structures and material are pushed to the limits.”

The world premiere of this dynamic new piece is particularly exciting for Scottish Ballet as it marks the first piece choreographed on Scottish Ballet by an outside choreographer since Ashley Page became Artistic Director in 2002. The piece, choreographed for 12 dancers who sub-divide into groups, is a celebration of raw energy and aggressive creativity; untamed, unruly and unpredictable. Costumes for Ride The Beast have been designed by leading New York designer Benjamin Cho, famous for the exquisite craft and fine details featured in his clothing.

Ride The Beast will be performed alongside Trisha Brown’s For MG: The Movie and Artistic Director Ashley Page’s Oliver Awarding-winning Fearful Symmetries, which was choreographed during his time at Royal Ballet and will be performed for the first time by Scottish Ballet at the Edinburgh International Festival 2007. Audiences can see this breathtaking new programme at the Edinburgh Playhouse from 18-20 August.

Scottish Ballet’s appearance at the Edinburgh International Festival 2007 sees the Company perform at the prestigious event for the third consecutive year and marks their first appearance under new festival director Jonathan Mills.


Scottish Ballet plays the Edinburgh Playhouse on 18-20 August 2007, Saturday and Monday – 7.30pm and Sunday – 4pm.  For details of performances please contact the Box office: 0131 473 2000 or http://www.eif.co.uk