Menacing, Mesmerising: Bourne’s Legendary Swan Lake Graces Alhambra

More than two decades after Matthew Bourne reinvented Tchaikovsky’s traditional ballet with a menacing ensemble of male swans, his masterpiece is commanding prolonged standing ovations.

The performance that shook the dance world at Sadler’s Wells in 1995, labelling Bourne the ‘bad boy of ballet’, continues to challenge and change perceptions with its bizarre concoction of evil and parody.

Named the world's most popular living dance maker by Time Magazine, Sir Matthew Bourne was knighted in the Queen’s New Year Honours 2016 for services to dance. Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award for outstanding services to the art of ballet, Bourne’s 30 international accolades including an Olivier Award in the UK and three Tonys on Broadway.

Hailed as a passionate and contemporary Swan Lake for the modern day, the production is performed by Bourne’s company, New Adventures, launched in 2002 with a remit and passion to unearth and develop diverse young talent from across the UK on their journey into training and professional work.

Supported using public funds by Arts Council England, training initiatives include Swan School, two week-long intensive programmes designed to prepare graduate level dancers for the audition process.

Making his dynamic debut in this production as the enigmatic Swan who mesmerises the melancholic Prince is Will Bozier - who also plays The Stranger. Emerging from the lake bare breasted with a shaven head and glistening in the moonlight, he evokes overwhelming emotions in the depressed Prince who has just composed a suicide note.

For the Prince, played by Dominic North, a principal performer with New Adventures since 2008, the Swan symbolises happiness and freedom. The majestic creature is a far cry from the Prince’s superficial regime of official openings, champagne and dizzy girlfriend - played beautifully by Katrina Lyndon – not to mention his indifferent mother (Nicole Kabera was superb in the role) and controlling Private Secretary ably performed by Glenn Graham.

Tensions are heightened in the ball scene where Bozier as the magnetic Stranger is the ultimate seducer of glamorous ball-gowned guests and the Queen herself. The Prince’s emotional thermometer looks set to explode off the Richter scale as he vies with the women for The Stranger’s attention.

The finale is excruciatingly heart breaking and explosive as the troupe of male swans transform into vicious fighters and turn against their leader whose demise is inevitable as they brutally poke him to death.

Inconsolable with grief, the Prince dies of a broken heart – but the all-pervasive spirituality transcends the worldly as The Swan protectively cradles the Prince on high while mourners below gather around his dead body.

Retaining the iconic elements of the original production loved by millions around the world, Matthew Bourne, his talented troupe and award-winning designers Lez Brotherston (set and costumes) and Paule Constable (lighting) have undoubtedly idelivered on their promise to create an exciting re-imagining of the classic production.

Commencing at 7.30pm, Swan Lake runs until Saturday, 10 November. Audio described performance: Saturday 10 November 2.30pm.
Call the Box Office on 01274 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk for more information.