Bourne’s choreography elegantly soars in a dance show that will capture your heart.Rating
Unmissable!
A spotlight filled with ruby red pointe shoes sets the scene for this revival of Matthew Bourne’s multi-award-winning The Red Shoes, nearly ten years since its premiere.
The piece is based on the 1948 film of the same name and follows Victoria Page (charmingly played by Cordelia Braithwaite), an aspiring ballerina, who has to choose between her love of ballet and the company’s impresario (Andy Monaghan), and her love for the struggling composer, Julian (Leonardo McCorkindale). It explores the internal struggle between art and life, and whether art is worth dying for. The story finds its roots in the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, where a woman is given a pair of red shoes and, when she disobeys orders and wears them, is forced to dance to her death.
Bourne’s choreography is rich and playful, elegantly travelling from location to location, with comedy finely woven throughout, creating a beautiful theatrical air. There is an alluring, dramatic arc to the piece, and the company are mesmerising in their portrayal, moving easily between Bourne’s choreography and the classical repertoire interlacing the performance, such as Les Sylphides. A wonderful moment is the joy of the beach scene, dancers rolling over beach balls and miming breast stroke.
Braithwaite, as Victoria, is spellbinding. Her use of breath is striking, and her emotional connection to the piece is unwavering. There is a stunning second-act bedroom pas de deux between Braithwaite and McCorkindale that is breathtaking. The two mould into each other in a heart-wrenching, passionate moment, with him gripping onto her red-shoe-clad foot for dear life.
Liam Mower, as the Principal male dancer of the company, Ivan, has beautiful lines. His classical technique shines, with excellent jumps. He is aptly paired with Michela Meazza as Irna, the Prima ballerina of the company, with the pair providing great comedic moments battling the spotlight in a spacing call for Les Sylphides.
Costuming by Lez Brotherston is stylish, grounding itself in the late 1940s, with garments moving beautifully with the flow of movement. The red pointe shoes are simply iconic, and Brotherston does justice to them, as they pierce through the grey and white of the ensemble.
The score of soaring music by Bernard Herrmann, orchestrated for New Adventures by Terry Davies, transfixes you, making Victoria’s final fate incredibly heart-wrenching.
Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes is a transfixing retelling of a classic film. It features wonderful choreography and boasts a terrific leading performance. It’ll capture your heart and will stay with you long after you’ve left the auditorium.
Director and Choreographer: Matthew Bourne
Orchestrator: Terry Davies
Set and Costume Designer: Lez Brotherston
Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
Sound Designer: Paul Groothuis
Associate Director and Choreographer: Etta Murfitt
The Red Shoes plays at Sadler’s Wells until Sunday 18 January before continuing its tour across the UK.
