This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw Edward Scissorhands at the invite of Birmingham Hippodrome.
For Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre, Stephen Murray talked about his alternating role of Edward in this touring production of Edward Scissorhands. Listen below:
By Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour
Review: Edward Scissorhands at Birmingham Hippodrome
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A Stunning Production!
Directed and Choreographed by Matthew Bourne, with new music by Terry Davies
Created by an unnamed inventor, who dies before giving Edward (Liam Mower at this performance) his hands, Edward finds himself with huge scissors in their place. He arrives in a small town where he is taken in by Peg Boggs (Sophia Hurdley) and her family whilst her cheerleading daughter Kim (Ashley Shaw) is away for the weekend. Edward starts to get to know his new community and soon his scissors are put to good use with cutting plants, hair and even dog haircuts. Not everyone is as welcoming however especially Kim’s boyfriend, Jim (Ben Brown).
Compared to New Adventures’ other productions (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty) this is a much more modern story even though it is filled with 50s and 60s Americana, the younger characters pay homage to Wednesday Addams, Annie, Grease and even West Side Story in their clothing styles, whilst the parents are much more uniformed in their American dream outfits. The set plays with perspective throughout and pushes the sense of unreality.
The music is very dreamy and fully brings the world of Tim Burton’s film to the stage. Liam Mower is excellent here as Edward and that youthful innocence translates to the stage with ease. The source material is much more realised than other New Adventures productions meaning placing it on stage is about getting it right rather than being much more free with style. It achieves this really well and I loved every second of it.
A Stunning Production, Edward Scissorhands is at Birmingham Hippodrome until 10th February 2024. Discover what is coming up at Birmingham Hippodrome here: birminghamhippodrome.com/whats-on. Find out more about New Adventures here: new-adventures.net.
