The one-man show NIJINSKI distils the essential moments from the 200-page diary written by the legendary dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky — an artist caught between the forces of creation and despair.
Born in Kiev in 1889, Nijinsky became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and is widely regarded as one of the greatest dancers of all time. He revolutionized classical ballet with his bold, unconventional expressions and was idolized for his ground-breaking performances. His contemporaries revered him as the "God of Dance."
In this performance, Nijinsky is portrayed at the tipping point between sanity and madness. Aware of his impending psychological collapse, he writes with relentless urgency over the course of two months — a desperate attempt to preserve both his identity and his artistic legacy from the abyss of oblivion.
Less than three months later, Nijinsky was institutionalized in a psychiatric hospital, where he remained confined until his death 30 years later.