Set in early 20th-century Mexico, Like Water for Chocolate follows Tita, a young woman torn between her deep love for Pedro and a rigid family tradition that forbids her from marrying. As the youngest daughter, she is expected to care for her mother until death. Her longing, joy, and sorrow manifest through her cooking — with powerful, often magical effects on those who eat it. The story blends emotion and fantasy as Tita’s passion begins to reshape her family’s world in surprising ways.

Christopher Wheeldon, Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet, adapts Laura Esquivel’s bestselling novel into a full-length ballet. The production features original music by Joby Talbot and designs by Tony Award-winning designer Bob Crowley. Singer and dancer Francesca Hayward and Marcelino Sambé return in the lead roles of Tita and Pedro. 

This co-production between The Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre features lighting design by Natasha Katz, video design by Luke Halls, and orchestration by Ben Foskett.