MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE 2025 REVIEW
THURSDAY 8TH + 15TH MAY 2025 @ 2:00PM
BRADFORD ALHAMBRA + SHEFFIELD LYCEUM
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
In the past two weeks, I accidentally booked back-to-back trips to see the same show, first in Bradford and then in Sheffield. It first debuted in 1995 so this 30-year anniversary show was sure to be spectacular. Here’s my Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake 2025 review.
PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS
It’s been a few years since I’ve seen the production so I was excited to see a whole new cast of dancers. I’ve never not enjoyed a Matthew Bourne ballet. As much as I love a traditional ballet, I also love his modern take on the genre too. With Swan Lake, it’s so amazing to see more males than females in the cast because normally, male ballet dancers mostly just lift the women.
THE CAST
In Bradford, I saw Jackson Fisch as the Swan and Stephen Murray as the Prince. They had such great chemistry and you really get that first love feeling between them. Murray is light and emotive throughout and Fisch really commands the stage whenever he appears. I also saw Katrina Lydon as the Queen, who apparently I saw last time in the production too! Her queen is very graceful but her emotion at the end is harrowing.
In Sheffield, it was Ben Brown as the Swan and James Lovell as the Prince. Again, they have amazing chemistry. Brown had the most incredible technique on stage and Lovell plays the Prince a little sweeter than Murray did but just as good. This time, it was Nicole Kabera as the Queen. She definitely plays the character a little more cold-hearted but equally as regal.
For both shows, I saw Kurumi Kamayachi as the Girlfriend of the Prince and adored her both times. The character is so funny without saying a word but that doesn’t take away from her dance ability whatsoever. Although she doesn’t dance too much until the second act, she’s incredibly elegant for someone who is frowned upon by the Queen!
A special shout-out goes to the entire ensemble of Swans and Princesses. The male swans move as one when they’re on stage, whether there are only three or four of them or the entire bevy (yes, I just learned that’s the collective name for a group of swans).
I must mention the German Princess, played by Eleanor McGrath, with the red slicked-back bun wig during the party scene. She has the most incredible lines and fluidity to her movement, as well as legs for days!
THE PRODUCTION
The choreography is always the highlight of a Matthew Bourne show. Whilst there are always traditional ballet technique in there, Bourne always incorporated a range of dance styles. I’d say Swan Lake is more contemporary ballet, with elements of Fosse jazz, Flamenco and Tango to name but a few. You also get a mixture of ensemble pieces, pas de deuxs and solos and every single member on stage gets a chance to shine at some point. You can see the ballet technique as we always say it’s the foundation to all dance styles, even if it’s not the ballet that you’re used to seeing.
The costuming is not your traditional tutus and pointe shoes. Sure, there are boys in tights but there’s only one dancer in a pair of pointe shoes and a lot of bare feet from the Swans. I think it’s refreshing to see different costumes because whilst I love me a tutu, I appreciate any company that pushes the envelope. Lez Brotherston’s designs in both costumes and set are always spectacular and he and Bourne have worked together on multiple productions before.
The score is the classical Tchaikovsky one and I guess the only downside is that it’s a recorded track, rather than a live orchestra. However, there has been a trend of ballet companies using a recording instead of live music and I don’t think I like it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’m sure I’ll still be enjoying this production in another 30 years. Bourne is hands down my favourite choreographer, especially with his own productions. In fact, I’ve already booked to see The Midnight Bell once again. Swan Lake will always be one of my favourite of his shows though, simply because it showcases such incredible talent. The cast got multiple standing ovations so I wasn’t alone in loving this show!
If you’re looking for a usual night at the ballet, this isn’t it. However, if you’re looking for something fresh, this is it! It might be 30 years old but it feels as new as it always has. Every member of this cast is out of this world talented and I expect to see them in another production soon.
If you enjoyed this post of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake 2025 review from Bradford and Sheffield, you can find my other theatre reviews here. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok too.
