Matthew Bourne’s Early Adventures

Matthew Bourne is hailed as the UK’s most popular and successful Choreographer/ Director. He is the creator of the world’s longest running ballet production, a five-time Olivier Award winner, and the only British director to have won the Tony Award for both Best Choreographer and Best Director of a Musical.

Matthew Bourne returns to his roots in Early Adventures, a programme of hit pieces that launched the career of ‘Britain’s favourite choreographer’ and saw the birth of the style, wit and sheer entertainment that his company New Adventures brought to Swan Lake, The Car Man, Edward Scissorhands and Sleeping Beauty. With designs by long-time collaborator, Lez Brotherston, Early Adventures forms part of the company’s 30th Anniversary celebrations.

‘A rare treat. Bourne’s wit and flair are in full play’ Sunday Times

‘Wonderfully Entertaining’ Guardian

Programme* includes
The Infernal Galop – A French dance with English subtitles – This is France as seen by the uptight English imagination, with all the traditional clichés joyously paraded for our entertainment and climaxing in Offenbach’s inevitable Can-Can!
Town and Country – Lie back and think of England.. Moving and hilarious, this heartfelt pastiche explores notions of national character from a bygone era through the evocative music of Edward Elgar, Noël Coward and Percy Grainger, amongst others.
Spitfire – An advertisement divertissement: A celebration of male vanity and an affectionate comment on the preening grandeur of the danseur noble, it places Perrot’s Pas De Quatre (originally made as a kind of ‘diva-off’ for the four leading ballerina’s of the 19th Century) in the world of men’s mail order underwear advertising.
Watch with Mother – Seen but not heard? – Conkers, Hopscotch, Doctors & Nurses; Children’s games can be all-consuming, competitive and sometimes cruel. Based on Joyce Grenfell’s famous “Nursery School” sketches (“George… Don’t do that”) and set to Percy Grainger’s own piano compositions and arrangements of Bach and Faure, this 1991 piece has not been seen for nearly 25 years.

*programme varies. Please check theatre websites for details

Contains some adult humour. May not be suitable for under 12’s