A beloved fairytale and Academy Award-winning movie, The Red Shoes has seduced audiences and inspired generations of dancers with its tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Read more …
Matthew Bourne’s magical adaptation of the classic Powell and Pressburger film is set to a new score arranged by Terry Davies using the mesmerizing music of golden-age Hollywood composer, Bernard Herrmann (most famous for his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles), with sumptuous designs by Lez Brotherston (set and costumes), Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).
An intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences; The Red Shoes will dazzle your senses and break your heart.
The dancing of the company is top class throughout, and there is very little that can be said against a production that is not only ravishingly beautiful but also contains a tribute to Wilson, Keppel and Betty. Tying itself so closely to its filmic inspiration, however, does inevitably point out all too clearly what few shortcomings do exist in this way of telling the story.
Although a warning against the dangers of being over-ambitious, Bourne still portrays the resulting tragedy with elegance and glamour. This is not simply a technical masterpiece but one that is utterly beautiful to behold and hear.
Shooting straight through the glamorous and tragic heart of the post-war dance world, this is vintage Matthew Bourne in every sense of the word.
This is a thrilling evening, wonderfully imagined.
One of Matthew Bourne’s strongest attributes is his ability to extend a welcoming hand further than any other choreographer. No matter the story, he’ll find a way to make it appealing to die-hard dance fans, first-timers and everyone in between.
The Red Shoes is a beautiful and captivating production which would be enjoyed by die-hard dance fans as well as first timers.
Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes has 'been brewing in his head for years'.
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh from Tuesday May 9, 2017, until Saturday May 13, 2017. More info: http://www.edtheatres.com/festival
King's Theatre, Glasgow from Tuesday June 6, 2017, until Saturday June 10, 2017. More info: www.theambassadors.com/kings/
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