Orlando

Dance performance by Tim Plegge
with Philharmonisches Orchester Heidelberg
after the novel by Virginia Woolf
Dance· World premiere· For an international audience

Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s 1928 novel – an opulent celebration of having-it-all – this ballet follows a character in constant metamorphosis. Orlando transgresses genders, times and social boundaries, perpetually re-discovering themselves. Starting out as a young man, Orlando switches identity and appearance over the course of centuries to arrive in the present day as a woman and writer. The forces of change on this journey are love and lyricism. It is a story that encourages us to see that our boundaries are not finite; they are points of transition.

»Orlando« is choreographer Tim Plegge’s introduction to the audience as the new Director of Dance Heidelberg. Philharmonisches Orchester Heidelberg is conducted by Dietger Holm to provide the musical frame for this journey through time.

Info

Music by Lera Auerbach, Ezio Bosso, Anna Clyne, Gabriel Jenks, Henry Purcell, Georgij Sviridov, Dobrinka Tabakova, Tobias Vethake, Antonio Vivaldi

Location
Theater Heidelberg, Marguerre-Saal
Duration
1 hr. 30 mins. (no intermission)
First night
3 October 2026
Age recommendation
15+

INTRODUCTION
by Esther Dreesen-Schaback (in German)

»When did you last let yourself be someone else?«

Events

Team

Choreography
Libretto
Tim Plegge, Esther Dreesen-Schaback
Musical Director
Stage Design
Costume Design
Judith Adam
Lighting Design
Tanja Rühl
Sound and Composition
Dramaturgy
Esther Dreesen-Schaback
Education
Rehearsal Management and Choreographic Assistant
Greta Dato, Marc Galvez
Company Management
Laura Krahn
Stage Manager
Georg Zahn
Assistant Set Design Assistant
Lilli Marie Bisten, Judith Grätzer
Costume Assistant
Lilli Maya Färber

The production of the decorative parts is carried out in the workshops of the Theater & Orchester Heidelberg.

Thank you to the Marguerre family and Octapharma for their generous support.

Cast

Press reviews

  • »Tim Plegge gelingt mit ganz neuem Ensemble am Theater Heidelberg eine berauschende Uraufführung. ›Orlando‹ sucht Freiheit auf allen Ebenen – und findet sie.«

  • »Mit ›Orlando‹ gelingt dem neuen Ballettdirektor Tim Plegge ein umjubelter Einstand in Heidelberg. Der rund 100-minütige Tanzabend nach Virginia Woolfs Roman verbindet klassische Ballettsprache mit Modern Dance und zeitgenössischen Bewegungen – und erzählt eindrucksvoll von Identität, Geschlechterrollen und Freiheit.«

  • »Im Zusammenspiel zwischen Musik und Tanz zeigt sich Plegge als sensibler Vermittler. Das kann auch deshalb gelingen, weil die ausgewählten Kompositionen und das Bewegungsvokabular das Zeug zu breiter Zustimmung des Publikums haben.«

Magazine