Theatre Royal, Nottingham – until Saturday 6 September 2025
Reviewed by Amy Coulson
5*****
“The Midnight Bell” – Matthew Bourne’s Bittersweet Tribute to 1930s London
Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell is a dark, tender and masterfully crafted dance-theatre work that delves deep into the emotional undercurrents of ordinary people navigating life, love and loneliness in 1930s London. Returning to theatres as part of New Adventures’ 2025 national tour, it plays at Theatre Royal Nottingham from 2 to 6 September — and it is not to be missed.
The production draws its inspiration from the novels of English author Patrick Hamilton, best known for the plays Gaslight and Rope, but whose lesser-known fiction paints a raw, sometimes painfully honest picture of working-class life between the wars. Hamilton wrote about the working men and women, observing them at a local London Pub.
Set in a smoky pub in Soho, where a lonely-hearts club of regulars gathers each night, the piece presents six interconnected storylines. These tales explore longing, betrayal, secret passions, and fleeting hope with emotional depth rarely found in non-verbal performance. The pub becomes a microcosm of a broader society, where people’s public facades mask private struggles.
Bourne was drawn to Hamilton’s world for its emotional realism and complex characters. In contrast to the glamour of 1930s high society seen in works by Hamilton’s contemporary Noël Coward, these are stories from the street-level — bartenders, typists, spinsters, troubled war veterans, and those searching for connection in dimly lit corners of the city. The storytelling here is subtle, evocative, and powerfully human.
A key strength of The Midnight Bell lies in the artistry of its ensemble, made up of some of New Adventures’ most experienced and versatile performers. For nearly 30 years these dancers have between them performed leading roles to critical acclaim in every production in Matthew Bourne’s repertoire, in the UK and internationally. Their ability to inhabit richly detailed characters through movement and expression is central to the work’s success. No dialogue is needed — every gesture, glance, and stumble tells its own story.
This evening, I watched the characters Bob, a waiter (Dominic North) Jenny Maple, a young prostitute (Ashley Shaw) Miss Roach, a lonely spinster (Michela Meazza) Ernest Ralph Gorse, a cad (Glenn Graham, who gets a special mention as I was sat next to his very proud Mum and Auntie!) Ella, a barmaid (Bryony Pennington) Mr Eccles, a regular customer (Reece Causton) George Harvey Bone, a romantic with schizophrenia (Danny Reubens) Netta Longdon, an out of work actress (Cordelia Braithwaite) Frank, a new customer (Andy Monaghan) Albert, a West End chorus boy (Liam Mower).
Matthew Bourne said:
“This is, without doubt, the finest company of quintessential New Adventures actor/dancers ever assembled for a single production!”
Bourne is joined once again by his award-winning creative team: Terry Davies provides an original score that avoids pastiche in favour of a more contemporary, emotionally charged soundscape; Lez Brotherston’s set, and costumes evoke the period with grimy beauty; Paule Constable’s lighting and Paul Groothuis’s sound design complete the immersive world.
Importantly, the themes explored — isolation, desire, heartbreak, and the need for human connection — remain as relevant today as they were when Hamilton wrote his novels. Originally developed in the wake of the pandemic, The Midnight Bell resonates deeply with modern audiences still navigating the emotional aftermath of social separation.
More than a dance piece, this is a fully realised work of theatre that blends movement, character, and atmosphere to stunning effect. The Midnight Bell is not only one of Bourne’s most emotionally mature works — it’s a quietly powerful portrait of ordinary lives, and connection, beautifully told.