Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – Milton Keynes Theatre

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Director and Choreographer: Matthew Bourne

Since its world premiere at Sadler’s Wells 30 years ago, Matthew Bourne’s thrilling production of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece Swan Lake has gone from strength to strength and has become widely regarded as one of the best-loved dance productions of all time. In celebration of its milestone anniversary, the show has returned to theatres on a UK-wide tour in 2025, showcasing “a new generation” of dancers, which sees newer members of Bourne’s company step into the show’s principal roles.

At the centre of the production is James Lovell, whose portrayal of the emotionally stifled Prince is nothing short of exquisite. His performance is hugely raw – every movement and gesture infused with anguish, vulnerability, and a desperate longing for connection. Lovell’s physical storytelling is unrelenting; his inner turmoil etched into every flicker of expression and every tortured extension of limb. It is a performance that doesn’t just inhabit the role; it radiates from within it.

Bryony Wood is a delightful presence as The Girlfriend, bringing vivacious humour and bright, bubbling energy to the stage. Her comic timing is flawless, and her characterisation never slips into caricature. The brilliantly executed ballet-within-a-ballet sequence is a comic highlight that showcases her range and Bourne’s choreographic wit. Nicole Kabera gives an excellent performance as the Queen; icy and aloof, she spurns her son’s affections with the faintest of shudders and the ghost of a sneer.

But it is Jackson Fisch as the Swan (and later, the Stranger) who delivers a truly magnetic performance. Fisch’s Swan is wild and primal, fiercely physical yet emotionally charged; it is a performance that commands the stage with animalistic intensity and hypnotic presence. The chemistry between the two leads is breathtaking to watch and achingly beautiful, with Lez Brotherston’s gorgeous set design the perfect backdrop as it transports the audience into this strange, magical, new world.

The swan ensemble is utterly captivating to watch. There is absolutely nothing dainty about Bourne’s swans; they are dangerous beasts; hissing, kicking, stamping, and snapping; their intensity surges from the stage. But there are also moments of playfulness, too – the dance of the Cygnets, one of Swan Lake’s most famous pieces, is delivered with a joyful flair and silliness which rightfully gets prolonged round of applause.

Paule Constable’s lighting and Lez Brotherston’s design frame the performances perfectly throughout, enhancing the emotional stakes of each scene as the production drives towards its heartbreaking, inevitable, tragic conclusion.

Even three decades on from its groundbreaking premiere, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake remains as visceral, daring, and profoundly moving as ever, and this anniversary production proves that its impact has not waned with time. With a new generation of dancers breathing new life into the work, Bourne’s Swan Lake continues to reaffirm its status as one of the most iconic and enduring dance productions of all time.

Runs until 19 April 2025 and on tour