Photo Coverage: First Look at Matthew Bourne's THE RED SHOES

A new work by the world acclaimed New Adventures team, led by Matthew Bourne, is something really special. His latest, The Red Shoes, which launches the 30th anniversary celebrations of his dance company, is gorgeous to look at and mesmerizing to follow, and BroadwayWorld has the first look at the gorgeous new production!

The Christian Anderson morality tale of the vain girl whose red dancing shoes won't let her stop dancing. But more vital here is the iconic 1948 film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

Bourne has followed in their steps and tells a story within a story - a ballet company putting on a ballet of the Red Shoes. You know the sort of thing: leading lady injured, chorus girl steps up and becomes a star...

But crucially it's a story of obsession and art. She falls in love with a struggling composer but the dictatorial impresario who leads the company believes there is no room for love and human relationships - they detract from your art.

Ashley Shaw creates the role of the talented but fragile young dancer Victoria Page. Fans will have seen her in the title role of Sleeping Beauty and here again she takes centre stage, and captures hauntingly the tension of an artist increasingly torn.

Sam Archer as the imperious Impresario and Dominic North as the passionate composer add deliciously to the tension of this artistic love triangle, but there is also contrasting fun to be had from the whole cast particularly when the dancers are at leisure on the beach at Monte Carlo.

Regular collaborator and award winning designer Lez Brotherston is on top form here. The way his sets move, taking us from front to back stage, or from a Monte Carlo suite to cheap London digs, aids the story-telling and delights the eye.

A bonus here is a live orchestra (rather than recorded) playing music mostly taken from Hollywood golden age composer Bernard Herrmann. It adds a rich texture to the piece.

The story:

http://www.new-adventures.net/the-red-shoes/about

More details:

http://www.new-adventures.net/the-red-shoes

Photo Credit: Roy Tan

To post a comment, you must register and login.