Choreographer Wayne McGregor’s upcoming production at the Royal Opera House, 'Alchemies', highlights his career-long commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration with visual artists and designers. The program features a world premiere with costumes by fashion designer Saul Nash, alongside revivals of 'Yugen' and 'Untitled, 2023'. These works incorporate significant contributions from the art world, including set designs by ceramicist Edmund de Waal and previous collaborations with figures like Tacita Dean and Olafur Eliasson.
McGregor’s practice continues a storied tradition of the 'total work of art' (Gesamtkunstwerk), following in the footsteps of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and the Bauhaus. By integrating high-profile contemporary artists and designers into the theatrical space, McGregor bridges the gap between the performing arts and the visual art world, reinforcing the museum-quality significance of stage design and the historical importance of artist-led scenography.