Find out about the history of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake from our Artistic Director himself, Etta Murfitt (Associate Artistic Director) and the original Swan / Stranger, Adam Cooper.
so true. I saw Adam in the original run and it was incredible. i've seen the show multiple times and other leads have been good but nobody has ever captured Adam's physicality and presence.
I think it is my favourite ballet. The first time I watched it was in those gorgeous few minutes at the end of Billy Elliot's movie. Totally loved it but I am from Latinamerica so it took me years to watch the whole ballet. I dream to watch it live. It moves me everytime I watch it even when it isn't there in the teather. The first time I watched I couldn't avoid crying. So touching. Few ballets have touched me so much. You are all genious. I respect Mr. Adam Cooper and Sir Matthew Bourne so much.
Tchaikovsky was the first composer who genuinely obsessed me as a child, Swan Lake one of my favorites. But I never cared for ballet versions. which seemed distant and unemotional compared to the music, true for me with classical ballet as a whole. Bourne's version changed all that. It at last realized all the work's passion, pain, and fierce longing. I re-watch it often bowled over each time. Adam Cooper's performance is galvanic, demonically sexy. Rather a shock to find him gentle and soft-spoken in real life.
Its interesting, I was in London at the time and have no memory of the show being badly received at first. All I heard was how extraordinary it was. You couldn't get a ticket for love nor money.
I'd not really been drawn to the idea of ballet per se but Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake has such a strong narrative that you are totally drawn into the story. The humour, the emotion and the skill of the whole troupe of dancers is spellbinding. I'm addicted to the phenomenon that is Swan Lake.
Some many of my own thought echoed through this video. It’s an epic and iconic piece. I have seen over 10 times live and watched the piece on film so many times. I hear the music and I see the steps! Thank you for bringing back again this year!
From a ballet background (and paying for that with my 65 year old female body) I'd always see Swan Lake played as these ethereal creature. Which swans are most definitely not. They are strong and aggressive, and seriously scary when encountered in a park. So very male stereotype. I've seen tiny bits and am still searching the internet to see the entire performance. The score is so strong, I cannot wait to see it with a male cast besides the tiny bits I've found searching Billy Elliot. Bravo, I cannot wait to see the entire production.
There's definitely an underpinning of homoeroticism in the piece, and it's similar to that of the sexually ambiguous Car Man, Bourne's other revelatory take on the opera Carmen.
My favorite swan.. Adam Cooper!!🖤🤍Thank you Matthew Bourne 🌹
Adam Cooper was AMAZING in the lead role. No one has yet to come close.
so true. I saw Adam in the original run and it was incredible. i've seen the show multiple times and other leads have been good but nobody has ever captured Adam's physicality and presence.
I think it is my favourite ballet. The first time I watched it was in those gorgeous few minutes at the end of Billy Elliot's movie. Totally loved it but I am from Latinamerica so it took me years to watch the whole ballet. I dream to watch it live. It moves me everytime I watch it even when it isn't there in the teather. The first time I watched I couldn't avoid crying. So touching. Few ballets have touched me so much. You are all genious. I respect Mr. Adam Cooper and Sir Matthew Bourne so much.
Bourne's Swan Lake is simply gorgeous and it will have a place in the history of ballet. How daring Bourne's creation was. Congrats!
Powerful, evocative, provocative. A celebration of masculine beauty. Ingenious.
Tchaikovsky was the first composer who genuinely obsessed me as a child, Swan Lake one of my favorites. But I never cared for ballet versions. which seemed distant and unemotional compared to the music, true for me with classical ballet as a whole. Bourne's version changed all that. It at last realized all the work's passion, pain, and fierce longing. I re-watch it often bowled over each time. Adam Cooper's performance is galvanic, demonically sexy. Rather a shock to find him gentle and soft-spoken in real life.
Its interesting, I was in London at the time and have no memory of the show being badly received at first. All I heard was how extraordinary it was. You couldn't get a ticket for love nor money.
I'd not really been drawn to the idea of ballet per se but Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake has such a strong narrative that you are totally drawn into the story. The humour, the emotion and the skill of the whole troupe of dancers is spellbinding. I'm addicted to the phenomenon that is Swan Lake.
This ballet is an brilliant work! I enjoed every second from it!
Love this saw the original and all others brilliant brilliant brilliant !!!
Some many of my own thought echoed through this video. It’s an epic and iconic piece. I have seen over 10 times live and watched the piece on film so many times. I hear the music and I see the steps! Thank you for bringing back again this year!
From a ballet background (and paying for that with my 65 year old female body) I'd always see Swan Lake played as these ethereal creature. Which swans are most definitely not. They are strong and aggressive, and seriously scary when encountered in a park. So very male stereotype. I've seen tiny bits and am still searching the internet to see the entire performance. The score is so strong, I cannot wait to see it with a male cast besides the tiny bits I've found searching Billy Elliot. Bravo, I cannot wait to see the entire production.
Adam cooper was older billy Elliot in the film
There's definitely an underpinning of homoeroticism in the piece, and it's similar to that of the sexually ambiguous Car Man, Bourne's other revelatory take on the opera Carmen.
🖤🥀🖤🥀🖤🥀🖤🥀
Male swans better.its not ballet its drama dance