Olga Spessivtzeva was one of Russia's most famous and most tragic classical ballerinas, legendary as the greatest Giselle in the history of ballet. Her life imitated her role, and she descended into madness like the doomed Giselle.
Now the Eifman Ballet Theatre are telling the story of the life in Red Giselle at Sadler's Wells in London. Claudia Hammond went in search of the real Olga. Red Giselle is on at Sadler's Wells in London from tonight until Thursday 13 February. Ticket Office: 0207 863 8000
