Greater Manchester Dancers in full casting announcement for Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake’
Swan Lake
Tue 20 November – Sat 1 December
New Adventures production of Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake‘ returns to The Lowry from Tue 20 November to Sat 1 December and features a strong line up of local talent.
Greater Manchester dancers Shoko Ito, Andrew Ashton and Isaac Bowry are making their debut with New Adventures. Parsifal James (PJ) Hurst returns to New Adventures having previously performed in Swan Lake in 2013.
Isaac Bowry said today: “I started my training in ballet and contemporary at The Lowry’s Centre for Advanced Training in dance. The Lowry was where I watched my first ‘New Adventures’ production and was the place I saw my first ever professional dance production ‘The Nutcracker.’ Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is iconic and I can’t wait to perform it on my home stage.”
Prior to joining the company, whilst in her final year of training at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, Shoko Ito performed with the Encore Dance Company UK tour featuring works by Drew McOnie, Kerry Nicholls, Ernst Meisner, Layla Ellison, Gaz Davis and Jodie Blemings.
Andrew Ashton previously performed in the acclaimed New Adventures production of “Lord of the Flies” in 2014 which bought together the New Adventures company with young people, many of whom had never danced before. Having graduated from Laine Theatre Arts this year “Swan Lake” marks his professional debut.
Isaac Bowry also previously performed in “Lord of the Flies” in 2014. His other career highlights include Principal dancer with Ballet Theatre UK, Principal dancer with Chantry Dance Company, Guest principal dancer for The Japanese International Youth Ballet and guest principal dancer for Midland Theatre Ballet.
As well as performing in the 2013 UK and international tour of “Swan Lake”, Parsifal James (PJ) Hurst has also delivered many workshops for the company, including on the Dance for Life programme for those living with dementia. Other career highlights include: Protein Dance “LOL”, Garsington Opera “Death in Venice”, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre “Upon Awakening & Hell Can Wait” and Gary Clarke’s award-winning “COAL”. On top of all of this, he has remained loyal to his northern connections, where dance began for him, in the company Homegrown Dance Theatre by returning several times per year teaching and choreographing on seasonal projects.
New Adventures’ star Will Bozier, currently dancing to great acclaim as ‘Harry, the Pilot’, in Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” and former English National Ballet star Max Westwell, who was also recently seen in the West End in “An American in Paris”, are both making their debuts in the role of ‘The Swan’.
Both returning to the role of ‘The Prince’, two much loved New Adventures Principal dancers, Liam Mower (currently wowing audiences as ‘The Angel’ in “Cinderella”) and Dominic North (acclaimed star of “Edward Scissorhands”, “The Car Man”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “The Red Shoes” and currently “Cinderella”). They are joined by New Adventures’ newcomer, James Lovellwho is making his professional debut.
‘The Queen’ will be performed by two long-time New Adventures favourites,Nicole Kabera and Katrina Lyndon both making their debuts in this role.
‘The Girlfriend’ will also be performed by Katrina Lyndon. She is joined by Freya Field and Carrie Willis who are both returning to the Swan Lake Company.
‘The Private Secretary’ will be played by long-time Company Principal Glenn Graham (recently seen as ‘Grischa’ in “The Red Shoes”) along with Max Westwell and Ashley-Jordon Packer.
Returning to New Adventures are Tom Broderick, PJ Hurst and Alex Sturman.
Making their debuts with New Adventures are: Nicole Alphonce, Leigh Alderson, Jonathan Luke Baker, Alistair Beattie, Benjamin Bazeley,Megan Cameron, João Castro, Zanna Cornelis, Kayla Collymore, Keenan Fletcher, Michaela Guibarra, Bryony Harrison, Nicholas Keegan, Shoko Ito, Courtney Liu, Jack Mitchell, Barnaby Quarendon, Jack William Parry, Sam Salter, Stan West and Milwhynne Williams.
Also making their New Adventures debut are Andrew Ashton from Newcastle, Isaac Bowry from Glasgow and Harry Ondrak-Wright from Birmingham who all performed in the acclaimed New Adventures production of Lord of the Fliesin 2014.
New Adventures is committed to finding and developing diverse young talent from across the UK and their annual open auditions were attended by over 400 dancers. Since Lord of the Flies in 2014 New Adventures has been supporting young dancers from this production on their journey into training and professional work. The company have delivered various initiatives, including Swan School, two week-long intensives designed to prepare graduate level dancers for the audition process. This production of Swan Lake is the first New Adventures production to feature dancers who had their first experience of dance with the company in Lord of the Flies.
New Adventures is delighted to continue its relationship with Central School of Ballet and will this year be joining forces for the third year of our Student Associates Programme. This year making their New Adventures debuts on the Sadler’s Wells stage will be third year students, Lewis Bondu and Alex Fadayiro. The Student Associates are generously sponsored by the Archie Lloyd Charitable Foundation.
Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake’ returns with a fresh look for the 21st century.
Retaining the iconic elements of the original production loved by millions around the world, Matthew Bourne and his Associate Artists, award-winning designers Lez Brotherston (Set & Costumes) and Paule Constable (Lighting) will create an exciting re-imagining of the classic production.
Thrilling, audacious, witty and emotive, this ‘Swan Lake’ is perhaps still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble, which shattered conventions, turned tradition upside down and took the dance world by storm.
Collecting over thirty international accolades including an Olivier Award in the UK and three Tonys on Broadway, Matthew Bourne’s powerful interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece is a passionate and contemporary Swan Lake for our times.
New Adventures is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.
Listings Information
Swan Lake
Date: Tue 20 November – Sat 1 December
Times: 7.30pm. Thu & Sat 2pm.
Tickets: £33.50 – £47.50. Concessions £3 off (selected performances)
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