Director and Choreographer: Matthew Bourne
Composer: Terry Davies
Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell, inspired by the novels of Patrick Hamilton, delivers a moving postcard from Soho’s booze-drenched 1930s. This bohemian corner of London’s West End owes much of its fame to the literary crowd who once frequented its celebrated watering holes, from Brendan Behan to Dylan Thomas.
Bourne’s impressive show presents the lonely hearts from Hamilton’s books – but the characters are deprived the words to explain and instead forced to show, not tell, their tales of lust and longing, love and loss. This makes for a beautifully choregraphed and flowing ensemble piece that loses none of the power and perhaps gives us the freedom to add meaning to these complex relationships.
Its strength lies in the way it contains the energy and movement of a busy bar crowd without losing the tiny details and gestures that tell us so much about these couples, their dreams and disappointments. From bouncy barman Bob, played by Dominic North, to Glenn Graham’s weaselly cad, Ernest Ralph Gorse, and Michela Meazza’s lonely spinster. Miss Roach, the cast are stunning. Cordelia Braithwaite’s portrayal of Netta, the out-of-work actress, is superb, as is the object of her mistreatment, Will Bozier’s tortured romantic, George Harvey Bone.
Les Brotherston’s minimal set shifts effortlessly from night to day, swapping cosy interiors for Soho’s maze of streets and rooming-houses, all lit beautifully by Paule Constable. The bar-counter spins into different positions from pub to pub; a red dome and receiver stands in for the telephone box and a simple park bench sets the scene for the many meetings. Paul Groothuis’ sound design adds authenticity to a buzzing metropolis, allowing the cast to lip-synch the tunes of the day.
Bourne reveals in the after-show Q&A how the cast dancers delved into the past with detailed research into the films, books, clothes and even walks and mannerisms of the time. And this comes across in a well-observed performance where the body language says so much. The Midnight Belle moves at enough pace to keep us dazzled whilst creating the space for these small human stories to unfold.
It is a delicate portrait of times past, the pursuit of happiness and dreamers who find solace in the city.
Runs until 20 September 2025
