Matthew Bourne brings The Red Shoes back to Nottingham
Matthew Bourne’s double Olivier award-winning smash hit production of The Red Shoes dances into Nottingham next month.
A timeless fairytale and beloved Oscar-winning film, The Red Shoes has captivated audiences and inspired generations of dancers with its powerful tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. The story centres on Victoria Page, a girl who lives to dance but whose ambitions become a fierce struggle between the two men who inspire her passion.
The triumphant adaptation of the legendary film was a sell-out before its world premiere season opened in 2016. It went on to win the Best Entertainment award at the 2017 Olivier Awards, with Matthew Bourne winning the award for Best Theatre Choreographer. The show then returned for a national tour in 2019 – and now it’s back again for its tenth anniversary.
Bourne, a visionary choreographer credited with revolutionising ballet productions, said: “The Red Shoes was the culmination of a twenty-year ambition to bring Powell and Pressburger's seminal 1948 film to the stage. It was also, in many ways, a personal love letter to a life in theatre and dance.
“This production was certainly a landmark event for our company, becoming an instant classic and a beloved addition to our repertoire. I’m so happy to see it return this year, especially as our last tour in 2020 was sadly cut short by the pandemic and left many of our loyal audiences throughout the UK disappointed.”
The production is set to a score orchestrated by Terry Davies, featuring the mesmerising music of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, with sumptuous designs by Lez Brotherston (set and costumes), Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).
Playing Victoria Page are Ashley Shaw, Cordelia Braithwaite, Hannah Kremer and Holly Saw, alongside Andy Monaghan and Reece Causton as Boris Lermontov, Dominic North and Leonardo McCorkindale as Julian Kraster, Michela Meazza, Cordelia Braithwaite and Katrina Lyndon as Irina Boronskaya, Liam Mower, Will Bozier and Jackson Fisch as Ivan Boleslawsky and Glenn Graham, Liam Mower and Reece Causton as Grischa Ljubov.
They are joined by Mark Austin, Tom Barnes Standing, Isabella Chandler, Adam Davies, Cameron Flynn, Anna-Maria de Freitas, Christina Gibbs, Thomas Ireson, Rosanna Lindsey, Callum Mann, Daisy May Kemp, Jarrod McWilliams, Matthew Potulski, Molly Shaw-Downie, Kingston Taylor, Shakiera Ward and Daisy West.
The show runs at the Theatre Royal from Tuesday February 3 to Saturday February 7. It is recommended for ages seven and above. Visit www.trch.co.uk or call 0115 989 5555 to book.