THE tragic and romantic ballet Manon will be broadcast live in cinemas, including The Wellesley in Wellington, next month.

A firm favourite in The Royal Ballet repertory, Manon depicts the powerful and obsessive love between Des Grieux (Vadim Muntagirov) and Manon (Sarah Lamb), who, when they first meet, is being sold off to the highest bidder by her brother Lescaut (Ryoichi Hirano).

Des Grieux and Manon elope to Paris but she is seduced by Monsieur GM (Gary Avis) who entices her to leave her lover for a life of luxury as a kept woman.

Encouraged by Lescaut, Des Grieux cheats at cards in a desperate attempt to win Monsieur GM’s fortune from him but is caught. Des Grieux and Manon escape to Manon’s apartment where Monsieur GM finds them. Manon is arrested for prostitution.

In a dramatic final act set in New Orleans – where Manon has been deported – Des Grieux saves Manon from the sexual advances of her jailer and the pair escape. But Manon is now exhausted and ill, and in the heart-breaking final scene she dies in Des Grieux’s arms in the Louisiana wilderness.

Manon is being screened on Tuesday, May 3, at 7.15pm with an encore screening on Sunday, May 6, at 2pm.