Review: Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at Newcastle Theatre Royal
Matthew Bourne's reinvention of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece, Swan Lake, is on its 30th anniversary UK tour
Since it premiered almost 30 years ago, Swan Lake has become the most successful dance theatre production of all time – so of course we’re expecting great things! Matthew Bourne’s creations are always a unique experience thanks to his modern signature style. Take his Edward Scissorhands production for example (which we enjoyed this time last year).
We’re sure there are many audience members, like us, experiencing this production for the first time, and the buzzy atmosphere proves just that.
Even if you have seen previous productions of Swan Lake, we advise you head to the theatre without expectations. There are no tutus for one, and the show is certainly genre-defying. Most interestingly (and certainly untraditionally) in this production, the female corps-de-ballet has been replaced with a male ensemble. This ensemble is particularly enchanting with swan-like movements that must take a lot of training to perfect, and they’re by far the stars of the show.
Subtle lighting casts dramatic shadows and striking costumes mean you never lose track of the characters in this tale. That and the spellbinding soundtrack combine to create a polished production. The standing ovation from the crowd on this night at the theatre was certainly deserved.
Find out more about this production here.
