For most theatre and ballet lovers Matthew Bourne’s production is one of, if not the, highlight of the year, it is for me anyway. This years offering is Cinderella, and it does not disappoint. Every aspect that these productions are known for was present, the amazing set, the beautiful choreography, the stunning costumes and the slightly bizarre twist on a well known tale.
The twist for Cinderella is that it is set during the Blitz, which adds a poignant depth to the fairytale. For the most part the narrative is easy to follow as it is told not just by the dance but also the incredible storytelling in the characters faces. A special mention has to go to the creepy step brother played by Dan Wright, I was disturbingly mesmerised by his performance and followed him around the stage during the larger group dances, so much so that I missed quite a lot of what was going on. This is often the case as everyone on stage is carrying on and you just don’t know who to watch, unfortunately I was drawn to the creepiest guy up there!
The only negative for me is that Act 3 was just a couple of scenes too long, however this didn’t appear to be an issue for the rest of the audience as they gave the cast a standing ovation and all danced too the classic wartime tune Pennsylvania 65000 for the finale.
Definitely worth going to see, if you haven’t yet seen a Matthew Bourne production this will definitely win you over and you will also eagerly await next years too!
Showing at Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 10th March tickets are available here from £19.50.
Review by Josie Opal
