Scottish Ballet: The Scandal at Mayerling

Scottish Ballet brings The Scandal at Mayerling back to Edinburgh Festival Theatre from Thursday 22 to Saturday 24 April 2027, with three evening performances and a Saturday matinee.

The two-act ballet reworks Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling around Crown Prince Rudolf’s final years and the events at the Mayerling hunting lodge in 1889.

Key Event Details

What To Expect

Scottish Ballet’s version places Rudolf’s deteriorating state of mind at the centre of the story, with the court around him becoming increasingly claustrophobic as his relationships and behaviour unravel. The choreography is paired with Franz Liszt’s music, performed live by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.

Elin Steele’s sets and costumes draw on imperial Vienna, while the production keeps the darker parts of the story in view. It contains themes of suicide, addiction, coercive relationships, violence, and mental distress, so the 15+ recommendation is worth taking seriously when booking for younger audience members.

Tickets & Performances

The Edinburgh run is at the Festival Theatre. Evening performances begin at 7:30pm on 22, 23, and 24 April, with an additional 2:30pm matinee on Saturday.

Tickets and current availability are listed on the official Scottish Ballet event page. A Talk Ballet session is also scheduled before the Friday performance.

Getting There

Festival Theatre is on Nicolson Street, served by frequent buses through the Southside and South Bridge. Waverley Station is around a 15-minute walk away.

The show runs for about two hours including the interval, so the evening performances should finish at a manageable time for city-centre transport connections.

Our Tips

• Read the content guidance before booking for teenagers.
• The Saturday matinee is the only afternoon performance in the Edinburgh run.
• If you want more background on the production, look at the Talk Ballet option attached to the Friday performance.