Swan Lake – Lowry Theatre, Salford

Music: Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

Director/Choreographer: Matthew Bourne

Reviewer: John Roberts

The Public Reviews Rating:

For over 15 years Matthew Bourne’s sensational production of Swan Lake has been wowing theatre and dance lovers the world over and tonight at the Lowry Theatre was no different, bringing the 2000 strong audience spontaneously to their feet in rapturous applause.

Taking Tchaikovsky’s original ballet and making it more accessible for a modern audience is no easy task, but Matthew Bourne yet again proves that he has magic hands when it comes to bringing dance to a You Tube generation. He weaves a masterly stroke at contemporising the story line and brings a needed edge and vigour to proceedings by making the usually feminine role of the Swan Odette into a powerful and vivacious male lead, but at the heart of this production still lies the universal desire to be loved and how even the smallest of moments spent in the presence of something/someone so amazing and wonderful can change our point of view forever.

Dancing the part of The Swan on press night was Richard Winsor, who manages to wow the audience with a performance that is full of strength and versatility, yet at the same time light and graceful, bringing a range of emotions through his athletic lines and predatory and animalistic physicality. Winsor also oozes sexual tension in every scene, something which carries over well from his lead performance in Matthew Bourne’s production of Dorian Gray and adds a dangerous and unpredictable edge to his performance.

Dominic North gives a delightfully warm and heartfelt performance as the Prince who is so desperate to be loved, in what seems to be a rather cold and regimented life. His only real chance to express this desire is brought wonderfully to life in the magical midnight duet between the Prince and the Swan. Nina Goldman is mesmerising as the cold yet seductively sensual Queen and provides a great character clash and pivot for Maddy Brennan’s comical portrayal of The Girlfriend, who really does steal the limelight whenever she is on stage.

There isn’t a weak link in this strong cast and each and every one of them should be proud of every energetic movement and step they take to make this the powerful production it is, but the real star of the show is undoubtedly Bourne’s choreography and direction. It is full of energy and littered with humour, that even with the strong themes and contemporisation it doesn’t lose the subtlety and lightness of touch needed to make this a fresh, poignant and touching production that can’t help but soften even the hardest of hearts.

Swan Lake is lifted to great theatrical heights by a stylised and commanding set designed by Lez Brotherston which moves from the bright white interiors of the Palace to the gardened gates and the moonlit pond to a sleazy out of town night club with ease and with impact. Costumes also designed by Brotherston bring a welcome splash of colour in places to an otherwise monochromatic theming which adds a powerful chess like symbolism to the piece. Technically the production is wrapped up perfectly by an atmospheric and wonderfully thought out lighting design by Rick Fisher.

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is sensational from start to finish. It tantalises, it seduces and it proves that it is still by far the best!