The reliability of Matthew Bourne in creating mesmerising dance productions with Lez Brotherston’s design, is without question.  His reinvention of the 1948 dance drama film The Red Shoes is spectacular and full of imagination.  Whereas the film left audiences wanting more dance, this New Adventures production expresses all without a single word.

The original by Hans Christian Anderson was a cautionary tale of overambition and its dire consequences.  It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the story before seeing the ballet.  A young dancer from the chorus, Victoria Page (Cordelia Braithwaite) wants to join the ballet company led by Boris Lermontov (Andy Monaghan).  Her talent is recognised when she dances for the aristocratic Lady Neston (Molly Shaw-Downie) at an after-performance soirée. 

Lermontov’s Principal Ballerina is Irina Boronskaya (Holly Saw) and his Principal Dancer is Ivan Boleslawsky (Leonardo McCorkindale).  When Irina breaks her ankle accidentally, Victoria takes over the leading role. She is very, very good but she wants to be exceptional and unrivalled so she is tempted by the red pointe ballet shoes with red ribbons.  She dances with the Evil Shoemaker Grischa Ljubov (Liam Mower) who wears a black suit with red stripes.