The 2022 production of by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) is a stark, avant-garde departure from traditional escapist story ballets. Choreographed by Lila York , the performance translates Margaret Atwood’s dystopian world into a medium that relies entirely on physical and emotional endurance rather than spoken dialogue. Production Overview
“Indeed, The Handmaid's Tale pushes the limits of the story ballet, eschewing the ethereal and escapist for the angular and bold... It's a highly stylized and abstract interpretation.” Winnipeg Free Press · 3 years ago "The Handmaid's Tale" Ballet(2022)
: Unlike the film or TV adaptations, this version purposefully avoids cinematic techniques, leaning into the raw physicality of dance to communicate the state's ownership and control of women's fertility. Critical Perspective The 2022 production of by the Royal Winnipeg
: Lila York’s style for this production is described as angular and bold , prioritizing high stylization and abstraction over the "ethereal" grace typical of classical ballet. It's a highly stylized and abstract interpretation
: While abstract, the ballet remains action-driven, making the primary story of Offred and Moira easy to follow as they navigate their forced roles in a patriarchal theonomic state. Artistic Themes & Performance
The ballet emphasizes the central message of Atwood’s work—the moral and political wrong of controlling women’s reproductive freedom.