Director & Choreographer: Matthew Bourne
Composer: Peter Tchaikovsky
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is gracing Dublin stages again for the first time since 2019 as a part of the Dublin Dance Festival 2025. First staged in 1995 in London, Bourne’s version of the classic ballet by Tchaikovsky is best known for having the traditionally female parts of the swans danced by men. Bourne’s contemporary story sees the prince searching for his inner self despite a domineering mother and the pressures that come with royal life. An accessible introduction to ballet for the masses, Bourne uses both classical ballet and other styles of dance to create a spectacle for the eyes.
The cast, on the whole, are incredible throughout the show. There are some wonderful moments of intensity, particularly from the swans. The swans are full of complexity, deeply stereotypically masculine but also soft and gentle at various points. In wonderful synchronisation, they move fluidly across the stage. Humour is used throughout the show. There is a corgi who noisily trots across the stage, a socialite-like girlfriend for the prince who doesn’t understand royal convention, subtle and not so subtle facial expressions, and even some physical comedy. Lighting by Paule Constable creates beautiful moments throughout in which the dancers are performing and behind them there are shadows intermingling on the backgrounds. This creates some of the most beautiful images in the show.
The costuming of the swans (by Lez Brotherson) is iconic, they dance, topless, barefoot, in feather clad pantaloon style trousers. There is a perfect short pink dress for the girlfriend of the Prince and a magnificent red ball gown for the Queen. Each piece fits perfectly into the characters and their surroundings. The sets and costumes invoke a feeling of old Hollywood glamour. There is a lot of use of gold, black, and glitter throughout. It all meshes perfectly on the stage. The attention to detail in each set and costume is clear. Particularly beautiful is the stage and royal box set, both slightly askew. It very much feels like you’re at the theatre within a theatre.
Swan Lake is an iconic piece of ballet history. Seldom does a person earn equal acclaim for their version of an established work. Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is a defining moment in ballet history and will continue to be enjoyed for many years to come.
Reviewed on 21st May 2025.
