For 50 years, the all-male comedy ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (affectionately known as “The Trocks”) has delighted audiences of all ages with sell-out performances across 43 countries and more than 667 cities. Having toured extensively throughout the UK and Ireland since late last year, the company arrived this week at His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen as part of the venue’s 120th anniversary celebrations.
Originally founded in New York, The Trocks have become internationally adored for their hilarious and affectionate homages to classical ballet, combining exceptional technical skill with razor sharp comic timing.
The company was established in the 1970s in the wake of the Stonewall Uprising. Founders Peter Anastos, Anthony Bassae and Natch Taylor broke away from Larry Ree’s Gloxinia Trockadero Ballet to create a company with a stronger focus on dance and choreography. Their earliest performances took place on the makeshift stage of the West Side Discussion Group, an early gay and lesbian political organisation led by future Trockadero General Director Eugene McDougle. At a time when drag performance was still far from mainstream acceptance in the United States, these productions carried a distinctly subversive edge. Fifty years on, The Trocks continue to celebrate that legacy while entertaining audiences across the UK and Europe before returning home to the United States later this year.
The current company includes: Vincent Brewer, Harrison Broadbend, Raydel Caceres, Robert Carter, A.J. David, Matias Dominguez Escrig, Andrea Fabbri, Peter Gwiazda, Liam Vincent Hutt, Antonio Lopez, Felix Molinero del Paso, Salvador Sasot Sellart, Jake Speakman and Takaomi Yoshino. As is tradition, each performer appears under a wonderfully extravagant ballerina alter ego, and it is by these names that they are credited further throughout this review.
What immediately strikes you about The Trocks is that the comedy never comes at the expense of the ballet. Every company member is an accomplished classical dancer, demonstrating extraordinary technique, strength and precision. To execute such demanding choreography while simultaneously maintaining comic characterisations, visual gags and impeccable timing is no small feat. The balance they achieve between artistry and absurdity is genuinely remarkable.
The production is unique in many ways, including in that the show is split into multiple acts with two intervals.
The programme opens with the beloved Swan Lake Act II. Soloists for this act included Raydel Caceres (Mikhail Mudkin), Harrison Broadbend (Polykarp Legupski), Takaomi Yoshino as Odette, Queen of the Swans (Varvara Laptopova), and Robert Carter as Yuri Smirnov. From the opening moments, the audience were completely onside, embracing every exaggerated gesture, accidental collision and knowing parody, while simultaneously admiring the quality and technique. The brilliance of The Trocks lies in their ability to poke fun at ballet’s traditions while also demonstrating immense respect for them.
Act Two featured The Golden Tsarina and Go for Barocco, showcasing soloists Grunya Protazova (Salvador Sasot Sellart), Tatiana Youbetyabootskaya (Andrea Fabbri) and Maya Thickenthighya (Peter Gwiazda). These works offered a different pace and style while continuing the evening’s blend of technical excellence and comic invention.
However, it was Robert Carter, performing as Olga Supphozova in The Dying Swan, who completely stole the show. Carter’s performance was nothing short of sensational. Combining exquisite technique with flawless character work, they delivered a masterclass in both ballet and comedy. The piece moved effortlessly between genuine emotion within the solo and outright hilarity, resulting in one of those rare performances that leaves an audience simultaneously crying with laughter and awestruck by the artistry on display. It was a true showcase of Carter’s immense talent and contribution to the company – complete with an overexaggerated curtain call, of course.
The final act brought the full ensemble together for Valpurgeyeva Noch, featuring leading performances from Colette Adae (Jake Speakman), Mikhail Mudkin (Raydel Caceres) and Boris Dumbkopf (Takaomi Yoshino). While physical comedy and playful chaos remained central to the performance, this closing section also gave the company an opportunity to fully demonstrate the depth of their technical abilities. The scale of the choreography, the precision of the ensemble work and the sheer athleticism on display was genuinely breathtaking. Beneath the jokes lies a company of world-class dancers, and nowhere was that more evident than in this finale.
Ultimately, comedy is difficult. Ballet is difficult. To excel at both simultaneously, and to do so with such apparent ease, commitment and joy, is what makes The Trocks such a unique theatrical experience. Their performances are uproariously funny, but they are never simply a comedy act.
Artistic Director Tory Dobrin, Executive Director Liz Harler, Associate Director Isabel Martinez Rivera and Associate Artistic Director Raffaele Morra lead a wider team of dedicated company staff whose work ensures the production remains fresh, relevant and consistently entertaining. Sustaining a concept for five decades is an achievement in itself – continuing to make it feel innovative and joyful, appealing to all generations after 50 years is truly impressive.
The production design is minimal but equally effective. The lighting and scenic elements provide just enough atmosphere to transport audiences into the world of classical ballet without ever distracting from the performers.
As part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo continue to prove exactly why they remain one of the most beloved dance companies in the world. Equal parts parody, celebration and technical showcase, this is an evening that leaves audiences laughing, applauding and awestruck in equal measure. Whether you are a lifelong ballet enthusiast or a complete newcomer to the craft, The Trocks offer something genuinely special: a reminder that great artistry and great humour can coexist beautifully on the same stage.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo play at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday 20th June before continuing their tour further in England until the end of June 2026. Tickets here: https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/les-ballets-trockadero-de-monte-carlo/
5 stars
Theatre Scotland 
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