Cheat Sheet:
Matthew Bourne ballets
He's one of the most successful names in dance, bringing ballet into the 21st century with innovative reimaginings of classic works. Before you tune into Sir Matthew Bourne's five greatest works on Stream, check out our handy cheat sheet with video introductions from the man himself.
Swan Lake
A Snapshot
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet in tutus with a bare-chested, menacing ensemble of male swans, which shattered conventions and turned tradition upside down. This reinterpretation was created out of Bourne’s fascination with what he saw as a hidden message around the Prince’s reluctance to take a bride and the idea of the male swan as powerful, wild and dangerous. Bourne set out to wipe away the powerful images of the ballerina swan that were so embedded in the psyche of dance enthusiasts and even the wider public.
Since taking the dance world by storm when the groundbreaking work first premiered in 1995, this Swan Lake returns on film with a fresh look for the 21st century. Still retaining the iconic elements of the original production loved by millions, award-winning designers, Lez Brotherston and Paule Constable, alongside Bourne, have created an exciting re-imagining of the classic production.
Trivia
The work has collected thirty international accolades, including an Olivier Award in the UK and three Tonys on Broadway, Bourne’s powerful interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece is a passionate and contemporary Swan Lake for our times.
When Bourne’s approach for the work was announced, some dance writers and balletomanes were horrified at the thought of the carnage that lay ahead. Some took pains to point out it was a great “tragedy” with a profound message, implying Bourne hardly had the credentials to tackle such a masterpiece of ballet history. Others nudged Bourne and said they couldn’t wait – “It’s going to be such a scream!” they said, expecting a riotous parody or camp send-up. There was a “David and Goliath” feel about this project. The small, quirky company run by an East-end upstart with no traditional classical ballet credentials taking on this hallowed classic. Bourne certainly had something to prove.
Relevance
It was a challenging piece for many when it premiered. Some more traditional critics were not amused, and there were walk-outs when The Swan and Prince danced together, and young girls with buns in tears that Mummy had brought them to the “wrong” Swan Lake. It was also dubbed by many as “the gay Swan Lake” which Bourne is happy to celebrate but feels that was not the whole story. Despite this, it has become a modern classic and is a “bring the whole family” treat, beloved by the British and worldwide public alike; an example of what dance is capable of and how it can reach previously un-dreamed of new audiences.
Background
Bourne’s Swan Lake first premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 1995.
Film was recorded in 2018 at Sadler’s Wells.
Cast & crew
The cast
The Swan/Stranger Will Bozier
The Prince Liam Mower
The Queen Nicole Kabera
The Girlfriend Katrina Lyndon
The Private Secretary Glenn Graham
The Company: Andrew Ashton, Jonathon Luke Baker, Alistair Beattie, Megan Cameron, João Castro, Kayla Collymore, Zanna Cornelis, Freya Field, Kennan Fletcher, Bryony Harrison, Parsifal James Hurst, Shoko Ito, Nicholas Keegan, Courtney Liu, James Lovell, Harry Ondrak-Wright, Ashley-Jordan Packer, Jack William Parry, Barnaby Quarendon, Sam Salter, Stan West, Carrie Willis
Creatives & Production
Director & Choreographer Matthew Bourne
Set & Costume Designer Lez Brotherston
Lighting Designer Paule Constable
Sound Designer Ken Hampton
Video Designer Duncan Mclean
Associate Artistic Director Etta Murfitt
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The acclaim
★★★★★
“Strong storytelling and a charged emotional core ensured that Swan Lake flew, and continues to fly”
The Guardian
★★★★★
“Absolutely breathtaking"
New York Theatre Guide
★★★★★
“Witty, Menacing, Lyrical and Wild”
The Daily Telegraph
Romeo & Juliet
A Snapshot
Matthew Bourne brings Shakespeare’s classic story of love and conflict to life with a dark twist in his signature style. In this take on Romeo & Juliet, the story is set in the not-too-distant future in the "Verona Institute", where troubled teenagers are strictly controlled. The setting provides the ideal backdrop to explore how society often seeks to divide and crush youthful spirits. This production is particularly special, as its cast features talented emerging dancers from around the UK.
Trivia
The company for Romeo & Juliet featured 100 young dancers and artists making their debuts with New Adventures. In a model unique to the company, at each venue on the tour they were joined by six local young dancers aged between 16-19 years old.
For the first time New Adventures welcomed six young associate artists to work with the creative team in choreography, set and costume design, lighting, sound, orchestration and conducting.
- The first kiss between Romeo & Juliet was described as "what may be the longest, most acrobatic kiss ever sustained while dancing" (New York Times).
Relevance
Rather than warring families and feuds, mental health and sexual harassment lead to the eventual tragedy, which are issues relevant to audiences today.
This story or forbidden love, repressed emotions and teenage discovery is energised and refreshed by the young cast.
As Bourne does in other works, he explores homeeroticism through the bond between Mercutio, Balthasar and Benvolio.
Background
The film was directed by Ross MacGibbon and filmed live at Sadler’s Wells in 2019.
Cast & crew
The cast
Romeo Paris Fitzpatrick
Juliet Cordelia Braithwaite
Tybalt Dan Wright
Mercutio Ben Brown
Balthasar Jackson Fisch
Benvolio Harrison Dowzell
Senator & Mrs Montague Matt Petty & Daisy May Kemp
Rev. Bernadette Laurence Daisy May Kemp
Frenchie Hannah Mason
Dorcas Bryony Harrison
Magdalen Monique Jonas
Lavinia Roisin Whelan
Morgan Sharol Mackenzie
Edmund Christopher Thomas
Lennox Alexander Fadayiro
Sebastian Callum Bowman
Fabian Cameron Flynn
Griffin Mark Samaras
Nurses, Guard & Orderly Daisy May Kemp & Matt Petty
Governor Escalus Monique Jonas
Psychiatrist Ben Brown
Local cast
Faith Tanisha Addicott
Martha Emily Galvin
Bridget Hannah Kremer
Rafe Janacek Wood
Ambrose Ashton Hall
Swings Kate Lyons & Mark Samaras
Creatives and production
Directed & Choreographed by Matthew Bourne
Music Sergei Prokofiev
Set and Costume Design Lez Brotherston
Lighting Design Paule Constable
Sound Design Paul Groothuis
Orchestrations Terry Davies
Associate Artistic Director Etta Murfitt
Musical Director & Principal Conductor Brett Morris
Young Associate Choreographer Arielle Smith
Young Associate Set and Costume Designer Elin Steele
Young Associate Lighting Designer Ali Hunter
Young Associate Sound Designer Rachel Goldberg
Young Associate Orchestrator Alexander Ling Young
Associate Conductor Ellie Slorach
The acclaim
“Britain’s most successful choreographer will blow your mind with his sheer imagination, wit, and brio”
The Times
“Electrifying entertainment’
Daily Telegraph
“Classic stories with a twist – accessible, but with a powerful emotional undertow”
Sunday Times
The Red Shoes
A Snapshot
Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes is based on the 1984 movie by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburher, which in turn was shaped around Hans Christian Andsersen’s story of the same name. While Bourne holds onto some of Andersen themes of vanity and religious redemption, it’s the image of the red shoes that once put on will not allow the wearer to stop dancing that remains so potent. The Red Shoes is ultimately a tale of obsession, possession and one girl's dream to be the greatest dancer in the world.
This two-act narrative dance was first performed in 2016 at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, London. The show itself won Best Entertainment award and Bourne won the award Best Theatre Choreographer at the 2017 Olivier Awards.
Trivia
- Bourne describes it as a story that asks us to take art seriously as a life-changing force: something that gives intense joy but also asks for and requires sacrifices - "nothing else matters but art."
- It is a ballet within a ballet - set in the theatrical world of a touring dance (ballet) company, it is actually about dance and dancers - love vs. art, or career vs. love.
- Bourne watched Powell and Pressburger’s film as a teenager and, at that point, had never seen a ballet live on stage.
Relevance
- As Bourne said: “In today’s culture everyone is very interested in what it takes to become a great performer or artist with the likes of TV and movies such as the X Factor, Black Swan and Strictly Come Dancing highlighting this and the question of what sacrifices need to be made.
- Audiences also love a backstage story, particularly one that gives insight into the art form.
Background
- The ballet premiered on 6 December 2016 at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London and went on to tour extensively.
- This production was filmed in December 2019 at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London.
Cast & crew
The Cast
Victoria Page - Ashley Shaw
Boris Lermontov - Adam Cooper
Julian Craster - Dominic North
Irina Boronskaya - Michela Meazza
Ivan Boleslawsky - Liam Mower
Grischa Ljubov - Glenn Graham
The Company - Stephanie Billers, Ben Brown, Joao Carolino, Reece Causton, Harrison Dowzell, Jackson Fisch, Rose Goddard, Bryony Harrison, Daisy May Kemp, Kate Lyons, Danny Reubens
Creatives and Production
Directed and Choreographed by Matthew Bourne
Directed for the Screen by Ross Macgibbon
Music by Bernard Herrmann
Orchestrations and additional music by Terry Davies
Set and Costume Design Lez Brotherston
Lighting Design Paule Constable
Sound Design Paul Groothuis
Projection Design Duncan Mclean
The acclaim
★★★★★
“Demonstrates how deeply Bourne is in love with dance"
The Guardian
★★★★★
“An exhilarating theatrical triumph"
The Week
★★★★★
“Utterly enthralling”
Daily Express
The Car Man
A Snapshot
The Car Man is Matthew Bourne’s take on arguably the most iconic opera there is: Carmen (get it?). Not much remains from Bizet’s original story – instead, Bourne borrows narrative cues from the noir novel and film The Postman Always Rings Twice. The score, though, is a variation of the opera’s iconic music.
The Car Man is a sultry story of a stranger called Luca arriving in a mid-western, Italian American community called Harmony. Torrid affairs, suspected murder and bare-knuckle brawls ensue, set across diners, mechanics’ garages and sleazy nightclubs.
Trivia
Despite being revived later in the 2000s, The Car Man debuted way back in 2000 – though its American tour was cut short by the September 11 attacks.
- Like most of Bourne’s work, the official programme for The Car Man had little-to-no detail about the plot, instead Bourne tries to elucidate the story purely through dance.
Relevance
Deviating from the source material of Carmen and The Postman Always Ring Twice, Bourne writes his protagonist as bisexual, adding a gay affair and a handful of explicitly homoerotic moments to the story.
- Bourne garnered much acclaim for making this work accessible for those who might not know ballet well, or the stories behind many of the classical mainstays. In his review, The Guardian journalist Luke Jennings explained: “It’s this configuring of productions for everyone, rather than for a selected cadre of dance-world insiders and cultural initiates, that has brought Bourne worldwide success.”
Background
The film was shot at Sadler’s Wells during their 2015 National Tour.
Given Bourne is the lover of film that he is, it’s no surprise that the production was shot with an impressive six cameras.
Cast & crew
The Cast
Dino Alfano, owner of
Dino’s diner and garage Alan Vincent
Lana, his wife Zizi Strallen
Rita, her younger sister Kate Lyons
Angelo, a hired help Dominic North
Luca, a drifter Christopher Trenfield
Mercedes Cordelia Braithwaite
Monica Katrina Lyndon
Gina Nicole Kabera
Sandra Katie Webb
Delores/ Shirley Pia Driver
Rocco Daniel Collins
Bruno Glenn Graham
Hot Rod Tom Clarke
Vito Andrew Monaghan
Marco Danny Reubens
Chad Leon Moran
Dirk/ Dexter Dan Wright
Cabaret Act
Virginia Kate Lyons
Jose Dan Wright
Erik Andrew Monaghan
Crew
Director & Choreographer Matthew Bourne
Set & Costume Design Lez Brotherston
Lighting Designer Chris Davey
Sound Designer Paul Groothuis
Music Terry Davies
For the screen
Director Ross MacGibbon
Executive Producer John Wyver
Producer Lucie Conrad
The acclaim
★★★★★
“It’s this configuring of productions for everyone, rather than for a selected cadre of dance-world insiders and cultural initiates, that has brought Bourne worldwide success. The Car Man delivers everything it promises. See it.”
The Guardian
“Is there a better dance show currently running than Matthew Bourne’s “The Car Man”? It seems unlikely."
New York Times
“Superb, witty, drop-dead-sexy”
Daily Telegraph
Cinderella
A Snapshot
Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella is a reinterpretation of the classic fairy tale audiences know and love. This version is set in London in 1940, where Cinderella and a young RAF pilot fall in love but are parted by the horrors of the Blitz. Bourne was inspired to set this famous story in this time after listening to Prokofiev’s score, and realising it was written during the Second World War. Bourne felt the music reflected this dark period of history “when time was everything, love was found and lost suddenly and the world danced as if there was no tomorrow”.
Trivia
Bourne’s regular collaborator, designer Lez Brotherson won an Olivier Award for his original Cinderella costume designs in 1997.
Australian ballerina Ashley Shaw plays the lead role of Cinderella in the film. She played Cinderella in Bourne’s production from 2017-2019 and joined Bourne’s company New Adventures in 2010.
In this story, Bourne has added three-step brothers to Cinderella’s dysfunctional family who both make her life difficult and provide comedic relief.
Relevance
Bourne said he dedicated the original production to his grandparents who kept their families together in London during the Blitz. Despite the Blitz happening over 75 years ago, the wartime experience still resonates with many audiences as part of their family history. The setting of the story is a reminder of the spirit and courage of those who made sacrifices, or who found and lost love during this time.
Background
The ballet premiered in 1997 at Piccadilly Theatre London
The revival was first performed in 2010 at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth
It has been performed across the UK, US, Europe and Asia.
The production was filmed live at Sadler’s Well in December 2017
Cast & crew
The cast
Cinderella Ashley Shaw
Harry The Pilot Andrew Monaghan
The Stepmother Michela Meazza
The Angel Liam Mower
The Father Alan Vincent
The Stepsisters Stephanie Billers
Nicole Kabera
The Stepbrothers Jackson Fisch Stephen Murray Daniel Wright
The Company: Reece Causton Joao Carolino Glenn Graham Sophia Hurdley Jack Jones Kate Lyons Jamie McDonald Dominic North Danny Reubens Katie Webb
Creatives and Production
Director & Choreographer Matthew Bourne
Set & Costume Designer Lez Brotherston
Lighting Designer Duncan McLean
Sound Designer Paul Groothuis
Projection Design Duncan McLean
Associate Artistic Director Etta Murfitt
Music by Sergei Prokofiev
Resident Director Neil Westmoreland
Directed for the screen by Ross MacGibbon
Executive Producer for Illuminations John Wyver
The acclaim
“A valentine to the power of love”
LA Times
★★★★
“Blitz fairytale spins light through darkness"
The Guardian
“A perfect treat”
The Daily Telegraph
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