Ballet Review: Swan Lake

Matthew Bourne’s renowned choreography presented the well-known narrative of Swan Lake in a new light. Turning away from the traditional portrayals of Swan Lake of the past, which witnessed elegant ballerinas in tutus, Bourne’s production sees a flock of powerful and fierce male dancers who combine ballet with contemporary arrangements to display a masterpiece of movement.

The story follows ‘the prince’ who struggles to fit in with court life as his mother ‘the queen’ effortlessly does. Once he has succumbed to alcohol, the prince is led to a city park in Act two, where he finds the swans. Entranced by the grace and fierceness of the swans, the prince quickly becomes infatuated with ‘the swan’ who grants him a freedom and love he had never experienced at court. Once returned to his royal duties, the prince is evidently changed, driven to a point of insanity with his devotion to the swan ultimately driving him to a poignant and dramatic demise with his lover.

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The beauty of movement is explored considerably through the characterisation of the swans.

The beauty of movement is explored considerably through the characterisation of the swans. When they first take to the stage, the swans are hostile, hissing and snapping at the lost prince. The intimidating presence and unity whilst gliding across the stage with sharp kicks and exaggerated shapes mimics the ferocious elegance of swans. As the swan slowly breaks away from his flock, allowing a duet between the prince and himself, the swans calm down, slowing their movements to show off the impressive power and strength of the dancers. Each performer kept in time with the other, dancing in classical and contemporary ways to paint an aesthetically pleasing portrayal of the graceful birds.

The ever-present use of comedy was an unexpected delight. The standout character of ‘the girlfriend’ dressed in a Barbie inspired hot pink mini dress, provided a high dosage of laughs for the audience. Her persistent chase for the crown prince presents her as an overbearing and clueless girl who works effortlessly to displease the queen. A notable moment came during act one whilst watching a ballet in the royal box she does not hesitate to attack the ‘evil tree trolls’ with her sparkly purse causing her to be restrained by the prince and the private secretary. The production’s understanding of the targeted audience was also used to create comedic moments. An example of this being the use of a mechanical corgi that walks across stage. This is an obvious nod to the British Royal Family and the late Queen Elisabeth II which received a shared laughter from the audience, especially when it tried to bite the girlfriend.

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The ever-present use of comedy was an unexpected delight

A tonal shift is evident throughout production. Acts one and two are full of comedy, shorter scenes and excitement as the narrative follows the prince’s discovery of the swans. Acts three and four become more dramatic and powerful, spurring the prince into madness and spelling out the flock of swans’ wrath towards the swan and his prince. To accompany this, the sets grow simpler, shedding the grandeur of a grand theatre and royal ballroom, to the blank white walls of a cell and the prince’s bedroom. With the limited colour palette presented through the set design and costuming, the audience’s eye followed the strong movements of the performers more intently providing an undisturbed visual experience. With such impressive storytelling through the choreography, it is no wonder that the finale inspired a standing ovation from the audience, showering the company with applause and cheers.

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is truly a must-see spectacle of dance and theatrics that provides entertainment for all. The graceful power of the performers, use of Tchaikovsky’s celebrated scores, comedic timing and modern twists feed the audience with the much beloved narrative of the celebrated ballet bringing it into the twenty-first century with a welcomed progressive narrative.