The Executive Producer of QPAC's 2019 International Series, Janelle Christofis, talks us through a scene from the Bolshoi Ballet's performance of Spartacus.

The scene is the Gladiator Duel in Act 1 Scene 3, "The Orgy at Crassus’ Villa". During this iconic scene, Crassus, frenzied and drunk with wine and passion, demands that two gladiators (Spartacus and Hermes) fight to the death for his entertainment. The gladiators are forced to wear helmets with closed visors, so are unable to see one another or identify their opponent.