Dance & Art: The Royal Ballet’s Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 in collaboration with contemporary poets and artists

Fancy some chic culture al fresco if the weather improves? We do, and we’re especially keen on the idea of ballet in Trafalgar Square, shown for free on a pop up big screen live from the Royal Opera House. It’s all part of this summer’s London Festival 2012, for which The National Gallery has invited a collection of contemporary artists, choreographers and composers to create an evening of ballet inspired by three paintings by the Renaissance artist Titian: Diana and Actaeon, The Death of Actaeon and Diana and Callisto, which in turn were inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphosis. Collaborators include poets Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy and Simon Armitage, who have written verse in response to the paintings (collected in an accompanying publication: Metamorphosis: Poems Inspired by Titian). Meanwhile, artists Chris Ofili, Conrad Shawcross and Mark Wallinger have designed the sets for the three linked pieces, which have been choreographed by such leading choreographers as Christopher Wheeldon, Wayne McGregor and Will Tuckett. The performances run from 14th – 20th July at the Royal Opera House (and there are still tickets left for some dates at a range of prices), and there is an accompanying exhibition at the National Gallery, showing the three Titian paintings (together for the first time since the 18th Century), as well as the set and costume designs by Ofili, Wallinger and Shawcross, which runs from July 11th – 23rd September. But the date we’ve got earmarked in our diaries is Monday July 16th, when the ballet will be screened live on a giant screen in Trafalgar Square at 7.30pm. No booking or cash outlay required! Not half bad this Cultural Olympiad, we’re thinking. Bring a bottle and blanket.