Theatre Royal Nottingham – until Saturday 7th February 2026
Reviewed by Jill Heslop
5*****
A ballet within a ballet is an intriguing idea and this delightfully mesmeric production of The Red Shoes succeeds exceptionally well. Matthew Bourne’s rendition of The Red Shoes is based on Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s 1948 film, which in turn was based on the classic fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen. The tragic tale of a love triangle with a difference is beautifully moving with playful fun sections as well as fantastic forties costumes and lavish scenery.
Victoria Page, the main female character who wears the fateful red shoes, is played by Cordelia Braithwaite with delicacy and strength. The story traces her development from a young dancer who catches the eye of the ballet impresario Boris Lermontov (Andy Monaghan) to a rising star in the ballet world. Along the way she falls in love with the struggling composer played by Dominic North. The story explores the theme of the sacrifices made by artists trying to reach perfection in their craft.
This colourful production is being revived in a thirteen venue UK tour which was cut short due to covid in 2020. Choreographed and directed by Matthew Bourne with the cast of New Adventures dance company, the scenes move from London to Paris, to Monte Carlo and the French Riviera. The revolving curtain frames the whole ballet, cleverly functioning as a curtain between the audience and the cast when we are watching the ballet within a ballet. The scenes set in Monte Carlo are full of playfulness and extravagance complete with stripy bathing gear and large beach balls. The joyfulness and humour of these bright scenes contrasts sharply with the spare colour palette of the ballet within a ballet. Here the use of silhouettes and a moving backdrop in shades of grey and white contribute to the intensity of emotion making the red shoes stand out all the more. The dancing and acting throughout is expressive and exceptional from the whole cast. Clever use of lighting in the final scene brings the audience into the action as witnesses, creating a moving and shocking ending.
This was a real treat for an appreciative Nottingham audience on a cold winter evening!