Review: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Bristol Hippodrome

The genius of Matthew Bourne is encapsulated in his desire to offer opportunities to up and coming dancers and ability to capture their loyalty via his New Adventures company. With Swan Lake on tour, he has two more shows waiting to be launched to theatres across the UK and Worldwide.
I have reviewed the current production before, at Plymouth, when it started its present tour, and the opportunity to return and see how this young cast have developed was not worth missing. It is difficult to believe that this revolutionary show was first performed 30 years ago and caused people to walk out at the affrontery of the choreographer. Times have changed!

Bourne keeps his Swan Lake fresh with tweaks, small adjustments and new dancers, often graduating through his ‘Swan School’. Along with the genius of set and costume designer Lez Brotherston and lighting designer Paule Constable, the visual presentation throughout is arresting and classy. These elements provide a framework on which to hang the powerful story of the young Prince; rejected by his Mother, haunted by his dreams and struggling with his sexuality.

The faultless performances of the big company illustrates that this is a show which is of no specific genre; ballet, jazz, contemporary, ballroom… all meld together to create a feast. Precision is a key element of Bourne’s work, and you won’t see a better example. As an accompaniment to Tchaikovsky’s sublime score, you can’t do better.

As the Swan and Stranger, Jackson Fisch (who we saw as he made his debut in the role) has become wonderfully at ease; exuding charm, swagger, menace and sexuality in the most spine-tingling  manner. James Lovell first played the Prince in 2018 (still a teenager) just prior to graduating from Elmhurst Ballet School; he returns to the role as a hugely accomplished dancer and gives an absolutely outstanding performance. He dances with an ease and grace, and his acting is out of the top drawer. If you want to know what is going on in the story, just watch Lovell’s face. Vulnerability, ecstasy, confusion, despair and anger; he expresses them all.  As a duo, there is a magnetism, a desire and a love. Simply as good as it gets.

Carla Contini is statuesquely elegant as the cold-hearted Queen who rejects her son; her brazen flirting with all and sundry adding to his loneliness. Benjamin Barlow Bazeley is wonderfully pompous and precise as the Private Secretary, and what a joy Bryony Wood is as the Girlfriend – out of her depth and making every social gaffe going – joyous and hilarious. Look out for other treasures along the way – the podium dancer, the threesome on the balcony, and the automaton nurses with Queen-like masks – there is wit and danger around every corner.

The swans are astonishing. You hear their breathing, you see the sweat pouring off them, you marvel at the athleticism, and you sit back in horror at what they do, but you admire every single one of them. As you do with the whole Company.

This Swan Lake is sublime; once seen, never forgotten and feels as fresh as it did when I first saw it. In another 30 years it still will. A mighty show borne of brilliance.

Directed and Choreography by: Matthew Bourne
Produced by: New Adventures
Composed by: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Set and Costume Design by: Lez Brotherston
Lighting Design by: Paule Constable
Sound Design by: Ken Hampton
Video Projection Design by: Duncan McLean

Swan Lake has completed its dates at Bristol Hippodrome. It tours until Thursday 9 October.