Matthew Bourne's SWAN LAKE Returns To Sadler's Wells

Premiering at Sadler's Wells in 1995, Matthew Bourne's triumphant modern re-interpretation of Swan Lake turned tradition upside down, taking the dance world by storm. This Christmas the multi award-winning hit returns to the theatre where it all began for a strictly limited run from 10 December - 24 January 2010 followed by a national UK tour opening in Woking on 25 January 2010.

Matthew Bourne blends dance, humour and spectacle with extravagant, award-winning designs by Lez Brotherston, to create a provocative and powerful Swan Lake for our times. Now firmly crowned as a modern-day classic, this iconic production is perhaps best-known for replacing the traditional female corps de ballet with a menacing male ensemble.

Collecting over 30 interNational Theatre awards including three Tonys, Swan Lake has been acclaimed as a landmark achievement on the international stage. It has become the longest running ballet in the West End and on Broadway and enjoyed four hugely successful tours in the UK and thrilled audiences all over the world.

Casting for the 2009 revival includes a mix of established New Adventures performers and newcomers. Richard Winsor and Jonathan Ollivier will both be making their debuts in the coveted role of The Swan.

Richard Winsor is one of New Adventures leading performers having created the title roles in both "Edward Scissorhands" (2005) and "Dorian Gray" (2008). He was also in the original cast of Bourne's "Play Without Words" (2002) and was seen as Angelo in "The Car Man" and the title role in "Nutcracker!". This Summer he is starring in his first major film, "Street Dance" , the first British movie to be shot in 3D, which will be released next Spring.

Jonathan Ollivier is making his debut with New Adventures. After graduating from The Rambert School in 1996, he joined The Cape Town City Ballet Company. He became a principle before returning to England in 1999 to join Northern Ballet Theatre. Here he created many leading roles, most notably Stanley Kowalski in Didy Veldman's contemporary ballet of "A Streetcar Named Desire" and Heathcliffe in David Nixon's "Wuthering Heights". Ollivier joined the Alberta Ballet Company as a Principle dancer in 2007 and returned to the UK to pursue a freelance career in 2009.

The pivotal role of The Prince will be performed by two dancers with a long history with Bourne's Swan Lake, Christopher Marney (London Only) and Dominic North. Sam Archer will join the company in January when he will be making his debut as The Prince

Christopher Marney has performed the role of The Prince throughout the world since first taking on the part in 2005 but his history with the show goes back to 1999 when he played a Cygnet. Last year he created the role of Cyril Vane in New Adventures "Dorian Gray" and has also played the role of Basil Hallward in that production and danced in Bourne's "The Car Man". Chris is also a choreographer in his own right and this Summer created his own "dance revue" entitled "Hotel Follies" at The Arts Theatre in the West End.

Dominic North has one of the longest continuous involvements with Swan Lake having made his professional debut with New Adventures in the 10th Anniversary production in 2004. Dominic has performed the role of The Prince on several occasions as the "cover" but now takes on the role full time. He has performed four other New Adventures productions; "The Car Man", "Nutcracker!", "Dorian Gray" and made his debut in his first Principle role in the title role of "Edward Scissorhands" at The Sydney Opera House in 2008. Earlier this year he created the leading role in Aletta Collins' "The Red Balloon" at The Royal Opera House.

Sam Archer who plays The Prince from January, has a long history with Matthew Bourne having been part of Fagin's Gang in the original London Palladium Revival of "Oliver!" in 1995. Sam joined the company to dance in "The Car Man" in 2002. He went on to play roles in "Play Without Words" and "Nutcracker!" and co-created the title role in "Edward Scissorhands" in 2005. He has since toured in Bourne's "Mary Poppins", covering and playing the leading role of Bert. This Summer he has been seen in John Doyle's production of "Oklahoma" at The Chichester Festival.

Returning to the role of The Queen will be American dancer Nina Goldman, who has performed in various roles within the production, including The Girlfriend, since becoming one of the original Broadway cast in 1998. Nina has also performed in "The Car Man" and had a great success last year as Joyce Monroe in "Edward Scissorhands". Sharing the role for the 2009 revival will be former Principle dancer with The Cullberg Ballet and Northern Ballet Theatre, Charlotte Broom, who will be making her New Adventures debut.

Scott Ambler, who created the role of The Prince in 1995 and Steve Kirkham, an original "Cygnet", will be sharing the role of The Private Secretary and acting as Resident Directors on the 2009/10 tour. Whilst leading New Adventures dancers Madelaine Brennan (Edward Scissorhandsand, Play Without Words) and Kerry Biggin (Kim in "Edward Scissorhands", Clara in "Nutcracker!", Rita in "The Car Man", The Sylph in "Highland Fling") will both be making their debuts as The Girlfriend.

Also featured in the cast are Ashley Bain, Tim Bartlett, Ben Bunce, Arielle Campbell, Tom Clark, Travis Clausen-Knight, Daniel Collins, Gavin Eden, Pia Driver, Ross Fountain, Philip Jack Gardner, Scott Jennings, Jack Jones, Simon Karaiskos, Daisy May Kemp, Franklyn Lee, Katy Lowenhoff, Luke Murphy, Gemma Payne, Gavin Persand, Sam Plant, Danny Reubens, Anwar Russell, Ashley Shaw, Paul Smethurst, Christopher Trenfield, Vince Virr, Chloe Wilkinson and Shelby Williams.

 

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