The most scandalous bun-fight in the history of the arts

Adam stars as Vaslav Nijinsky, arguably the greatest male ballet dancer of all time, in Riot At The Rite -

a single drama for BBC TWO about one of the most notorious premieres ever staged – Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring.

Theatre luminary Alex Jennings is to star as the great Russian impresario Sergei Diaghilev, founder of the Ballet Russe, for whom Nijinsky worked as a pioneering choreographer as well as dancer. They were also lovers.

Aidan McArdle (Dudley Moore in Not Only, But Always) stars as Igor Stravinsky, the musical genius who made his name after writing the ballet's score.

Rachael Stirling (Tipping The Velvet) plays Marie Rambert, Nijinsky's dance assistant, who later founded the renowned Ballet Rambert; and Emma Pierson (Nell Gwynne in Charles II - The Power and the Passion) stars as Romola, with whom Nijinsky falls in love.

Griff Rhys Jones will also be starring as Astruc, the owner of the Theatre Champs Elysees where the premiere was staged, and who was bankrupted after the event.

The ballet broke all the rules, as did the music, and all hell broke loose in the auditorium. Sides were taken as to whether this was the greatest ballet ever performed or just a piece of drivel. Scuffles broke out, punches were thrown. It was the most scandalous bun-fight in the history of the arts.

Music and dance were never to be the same again. Riot At The Rite, written by Kevin Elyot (My Night With Reg, 20,000 Streets Under The Sky, Miss Marple, Poirot), charts the preparations for the ballet in the weeks leading up to its premiere, and the ensuing riot that erupted during the performance.

The show was finally screened on BBC 2 on Saturday 11th March 2006