Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_22_31_13.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52558" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_22_31_13.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_22_31_13-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_22_31_13-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_22_31_13-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Ashley Shaw (Aurora). Photo by Johan Persson</figcaption></figure>



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Vampires, fairies and an ultramodern gothic romance with a sexy royal gamekeeper – yes we’re talking Sleeping Beauty not Dracula or Lady Chatterley’s Lover



Matthew Bourne has reawakened Princess Aurora from her slumbers for this 10th anniversary revival after what he describes as a ‘gruelling couple of years for the entire industry’.



And it’s brought slap bang up to date for a new generation by a superb cast of dancers who perform with wit, energy and passion. Ashley Shaw, in particular, steals the show as free-spirited Aurora. Not surprisingly she’s swept off her feet as a teenager by Andrew Monaghan’s sweet-natured, heroic royal gamekeeper Leo.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_23_23_24.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52567" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_23_23_24.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_23_23_24-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_23_23_24-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_23_23_24-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Ashley Shaw (Aurora), Andrew Monaghan (Leo). Photo by Johan Persson</figcaption></figure>



Following huge international success with Nutcracker! and his homoerotic take on Swan Lake, in which the traditionally female swans are famously played by men, Bourne struggled to complete Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet trilogy. The ‘perfect idea’ for Sleeping Beauty eluded him.



It was a private tour of the Russian composer’s country residence outside Moscow which finally provided the inspiration he needed after a 17-year gap. He and collaborator Lez Brotherston spent months researching different versions of the story and overcoming problems they felt would not work for a modern audience.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_48_52.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52573" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_48_52.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_48_52-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_48_52-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_48_52-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Katrina Lyndon (Aurora) and company. Photo by Johan Persson</figcaption></figure>



Bourne&#8217;s Sleeping Beauty seamlessly blends elements from the Brothers Grimm’s Little Briar Rose, the classic Walt Disney animation and gothic fiction with a heroine inspired by Isadora Duncan, a 20th century pioneer of contemporary dance.



If, like me, you’ve not seen this award-winning production before here lies the fairytale plot twist: the flamboyant Carabosse (better known as Maleficent in the Disney classic) and son Caradoc &#8211; a new character who also falls for Aurora &#8211; are vengeful vampiric fairies.



So, after the princess pricks her finger following a curse, falls asleep and wakes up 100 years later Leo is given a credible reason for still being around a century later &#8211; he’s turned into a vampire by king of the fairies Count Lilac (Paris Fitzpatrick).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_38_30.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52570" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_38_30.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_38_30-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_38_30-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_38_30-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Stephen Murray (Leo), Katrina Lyndon (Aurora). Photo by Johan Persson.</figcaption></figure>



Another key plot twist rules out love at first sight and a kiss (without consent) from a stranger. Bourne has taken a leaf out of Walt Disney’s book and instead gives Aurora a more authentic, sensitive love story with her childhood sweetheart.



The biggest laugh, and ‘aaahhh’, of the night comes from a cute puppet baby who provides plenty of visual humour – no more spoilers!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_23_25_49.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52568" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_23_25_49.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_23_25_49-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_23_25_49-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/fotor_2023-2-9_23_25_49-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Shoko Ito. Photo by Johan Persson</figcaption></figure>



What’s so ingenious about Bourne’s new restructuring of this classical ballet is that Act One opens in 1890 when Tchaikovsky&#8217;s ballet had its world premiere. This means when Aurora wakes up 100 years later the audience is transported &#8211; through the halcyon days of the late Edwardian era in 1911 for her ‘coming of age’ &#8211; to present day.



A group of teens in hoodies and jeans take selfies outside the enchanted hidden castle gate wherein lies its sleeping princess – almost evoking a Stranger Things vibe.



Each era is matched by dance styles of the time they depict from classical ballet to an Edwardian waltz and more contemporary, sensuous movements set against Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score &#8211; regarded as his best &#8211; including the unforgettable Sleeping Beauty Waltz, Op.66.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-23.-Matthew-Bournes-SLEEPING-BEAUTY.-Katrina-Lyndon-Aurora-and-company.-Photo-by-Johan-Persson.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52569" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-23.-Matthew-Bournes-SLEEPING-BEAUTY.-Katrina-Lyndon-Aurora-and-company.-Photo-by-Johan-Persson.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-23.-Matthew-Bournes-SLEEPING-BEAUTY.-Katrina-Lyndon-Aurora-and-company.-Photo-by-Johan-Persson-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-23.-Matthew-Bournes-SLEEPING-BEAUTY.-Katrina-Lyndon-Aurora-and-company.-Photo-by-Johan-Persson-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-23.-Matthew-Bournes-SLEEPING-BEAUTY.-Katrina-Lyndon-Aurora-and-company.-Photo-by-Johan-Persson-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Katrina Lyndon (Aurora) and company. Photo by Johan Persson</figcaption></figure>



Lez Brotherston’s exquisite, theatrical sets and impeccably researched period costumes from the cream corseted elegance of Edwardian dress to the goth red and black leather attire of the nightclub scene add to the melodrama.



It’s not hard to see why this spellbinding production became was the fastest selling production in the company’s history – we can’t wait for the return Romeo and Juliet this summer!



Another must-see is the chance to check out some of the UK’s hottest young dancing talent – 13 of the 27 dancers came through New Adventures’ Talent Development programme. And the night I went, three of the cast took part in an insightful post-show Q&amp;A, including principal dancer Ashley who trained at Birmingham’s own Elmhurst Ballet School in Edgbaston.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_55_43.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52574" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_55_43.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_55_43-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_55_43-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/02/Optimized-fotor_2023-2-9_23_55_43-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Paris Fitzpatrick (Caradoc), Ashley Shaw (Aurora). Photo by Johan Persson</figcaption></figure>



The show’s a living, breathing production kept fresh and vibrant by constant notes and feedback. Each of the dancers plays two parts, so if you come again you’ll see a slightly different interpretation…



THE MUDDY VERDICT



Good for: Anyone with a passion for brilliant choreography and inventive storytelling.



Not for: Traditionalists. Bourne admits he took &#8216;a few liberties&#8217; with Tchaikovsky&#8217;s original story, so if you love classical ballet this may not be your cup of tea. Also there isn&#8217;t a live orchestra.



Running time: 2hrs 5 mins



Sleeping Beauty officially opened at <a href="http://birminghamhippodrome.com">Birmingham Hippodrome</a> running until Sat Feb 11. It will be touring at venues across the UK until April 2023. For tickets and further information visit <a href="https://new-adventures.net/sleeping-beauty#overview">Matthew Bourne&#8217;s New Adventures</a>
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Review: Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Birmingham Hippodrome

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