The Red Shoes
- leejamesscriven
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
The moving and mesmeric production of The Red Shoes arrived at MK Theatre and proved you can believe the hype.
The critically acclaimed Matthew Bourne’s rendition of The Red Shoes is based on Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s 1948 film, which in turn was based on the classic fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen.
The tragic tale of a love triangle with a difference is beautifully moving with playful comic sections plus classic forties costumes and lush scenery.
Red Shoes is the story of Victoria Page, a rising star in the world of ballet. When fate decrees that Page replace an unexpectedly injured Prima Ballerina, her good fortune comes at a cost, leaving her torn between her lover, composer Julian Craster, and manipulative ballet company manager, Boris Lermontov.
There is something magical when watching a professional ballet in full flight in a packed and appreciative theatre. You are gripped as the story travels from Covent Garden to Monte Carlo and from Paris to the East End. The ballet dancers were all collectively talented the dancing and acting throughout is expressive and exceptional from the entire cast.
Matthew Bourne has the golden touch of making ballet accessible and enjoyable to a wider range of audience (like me) who would never believe such an art form would be for them.
His varying styles of dance and use of facial expressions and body language that tell the true story behind how the characters are feeling is a wonderful trait.
The show’s set design is impressive with a dynamic and moveable stage which transforms constantly throughout the production, the set adds pace and energy to the story and is almost a character in itself.
Clever use of lighting invites the audience to emotionally engage with the many twists of fate being expressed in this beautiful ballet.
It’s not often you get the chance to see such an esteemed ballet production with such class outside the West End, thanks to Mathew Bourne and MK Theatre you can.
So do yourself a favour and see Red Shoes, you will not regret it.
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