Birmingham Hippodrome
***** Five Stars “Soaring High”
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is on tour, and what a tour de force it is.
Playing at the Birmingham Hippodrome until 15th February, this is the first theatre stop on a nationwide tour from Sadler’s Wells. Thirty years on, the production retains all the creative majesty of the original.
It is the story of a young man, restrained and isolated by the rigorous expectations of royalty, yearning for love, with a mother unable to show her son affection. It is a tale of love and loss, with a music score that soared as high as the swans.
With a deep desire to fill the void left by his mother’s coldness, Stephen Murray played the role of The Prince with a deft touch, conjuring innocence and vulnerability. The demands of royal life felt as ill-fitting to the Prince as the formal jacket he uncomfortably tugged at. Benjamin Barlow Bazeley’s Private Secretary followed, corrected, and monitored the Prince—whether in the palace, a downtown club, or at a royal ball. Bazeley’s performance shone, drawing the audience into the stakes of the story throughout. Nicole Kabera played The Queen exceptionally cold towards her son yet longing for affection elsewhere.
The freedom The Prince found with the Swan was palpable. The spectacular swans, led by Jackson Fisch (The Swan and The Stranger), brought both fierce and tender moments through their astounding athleticism and animalistic movement. A modern twist in the choreography was evident, with Etta Murfitt’s contemporary influence seamlessly interwoven with Matthew Bourne’s signature style. Both Fisch and the ensemble moved as one, or, if alone, as powerful individuals. Choreography was vocalised with the hisses of swans, and the theme of taming the untameable came to mind.
An unexpected but welcome thread of humour was woven throughout the production, particularly in the first half. This clever addition provided balance to the tragic nature of the story, with several laugh-out-loud moments created through both movement and storytelling. The Girlfriend, played superbly by Bryony Wood, brought comic charisma, especially in the ballet parody (wonderful comedy created by the dance ensemble) of Act 1.
The final moments, enhanced by Lez Brotherston’s evocative design, delivered an emotional sucker punch. Though a tragic story, the production leaves us with a universal truth and hope—love endures.
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake continues to captivate 30 years on. Some of the pupils from his Cygnet and Swan School programs are now performing in this production.
Outstanding—don’t miss it!
Reviewed by Jonathan Lauren
