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BrumHour saw Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake at the invite of Birmingham Hippodrome.
For Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre, Alistair Beattie spoke about his role in this touring production. Listen below:
By Dave Massey x.com/BrumHour
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – The Next Generation at Birmingham Hippodrome: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐”A stunning production”
Directed by Matthew Bourne music by Tchaikovsky
Thirty years after it ruffled the middle-class feathers of Fleet Street’s media, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is across the UK on an anniversary tour. For today’s audience, there isn’t a lot to shock, but this is a production which doesn’t shy away from its adult narratives.
The Prince (Stephen Murray), is haunted by dreams of The Swan (Jackson Fisch). Some time later, The Prince and his mother The Queen (Ashley Shaw) go about their duties in the Royal household. The Prince is paired off with a suitor (Bryony Wood) but later, his thoughts turn back to The Swan.
With black and white sets, plus stark outfits peppered with bright colours sparingly, this production brings to mind a black and white silent film, with limited sound coming from on stage dancers themselves.
There is light humour played out with Bryony Wood as the brash and clumsy suitor, out of place in the Royal landscape. Whilst The Prince himself feels misplaced there also. Stephen Murray is vunerable and thoughtful as The Prince, really conveying his inner confusion and anxieties. Jackson Fisch is excellent as he struts around, embodying the swan behaviour, controlled movements and power that echo through him.
My only real negative is the apparently prerecorded music, which doesn’t allow the audience to applaud at certain moments. However there are plenty of excellent moments of choreography and personality from the production to gloss over this most of the time.
A stunning production with great moments. Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake: The Next Generation is at Birmingham Hippodrome until 15th February 2025. Discover what is coming up at Birmingham Hippodrome here: birminghamhippodrome.com/whats-on. Find out more about New Adventures here: new-adventures.net.
