No longer booking
  • Venue Royal Opera House, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 13 February 2026
  • Running time 2 hours 45 minutes (including intervals)
  • Age guidelines 8+

Wayne McGregor’s Olivier award-winning Woolf Works returns to the Royal Opera House this January

This January, The Royal Ballet presents a revival of Wayne McGregor’s acclaimed ballet triptych Woolf Works, inspired by the novels and autobiographical writings of Virginia Woolf, and set to an original score by Max Richter.

Woolf Works recreates the emotions, themes and fluid style of three of Virginia Woolf’s celebrated novels – Mrs Dalloway, Orlando and The Waves – as well as elements of her autobiographical writings that echo aspects of her eventful life.

The score of the ballet includes a recording of acclaimed actress Gillian Anderson reading Virginia Woolf’s suicide note.

Woolf Works won both the 2016 Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production and the 2015 Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Best Classical Choreography.

The performance is set to a specially commissioned score from Max Richter, who combines classical and electronic sounds together with spoken word to create an atmospheric soundscape for the work. This soundscape features a rare recording of Woolf reading her essay On Craftsmanship and a recording of actress Gillian Anderson reading Woolf’s haunting suicide note.

Woolf Works is playing at the Royal Opera House from 17 January to 13 February 2026.

Sign-up for booking alerts, offers & news about Woolf Works and other shows:

Photos

Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of Woolf Works?

Starring Royal Ballet Principal dancers Lauren Cuthbertson and Sarah Lamb

Principal dancers Marianela Nuñez and Natalia Osipova will also reprise the role during the run

Conductor Koen Kessels, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Who are the creative team of Woolf Works?

  • Direction and Choreography Wayne McGregor
  • Music Max Richter
  • Designer Ciguë, We Not I, Wayne McGregor
  • Costume Designer Moritz Junge
  • Lighting Designer Lucy Carter
  • Film Designer Ravi Deepres
  • Sound System Designer Chris Ekers
  • Make-up Designer Kabuki
  • Dramaturgy Uzma Hameed

Venue Information

Royal Opera House , Bow Street, London, WC2E 9DD

Nearest Tube or Train: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line), Leicester Square (Piccadilly line, Northern line)

Nearest Buses: 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 26, 68, 76, 77a, 91, 168, 171, 176, 188, 501(southbound only), 505, 521, X68 all go to the Aldwych.

Directions

Google Apple

Critics' reviews of Woolf Works

★★★★ "Wayne McGregor lets rip in a frenzied homage" - The Sunday Times

★★★★ "Wayne McGregor chases brainbox ideas with electric sensation" - The Standard

★★★★ Wayne McGregor "reaches poetic depths" - Bachtrack

Frequently Asked Questions

Woolf Works is playing at the Royal Opera House in London
The running time of Woolf Works is 2 hours 45 minutes (including intervals)
The age recommendations for Woolf Works are: 8+
Yes, Woolf Works has matinee performances on the following days:
No, sorry, Woolf Works has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

More Great Shows

See all