Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet is a heartbreaker

Paris Fitzpatrick as Romeo and Cordelia Braithwaite as Juliet in Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet

New Adventures in Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet

Cordelia Braithwaite as Juliet and Paris Fitzpatrick as Romeo in Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet

New Adventures, Paris Fitzpatrick and Cordelia Braithwaite in Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet

By Deborah Weiss, 05 August 2023

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“they feverishly kiss and clamber up and down the framework quickly becoming intoxicated with passion”

Reviewed at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London on 4 August 2023

Romeo and Juliet (Sir Matthew Bourne)

New Adventures

Brett Morris, Conductor

Lez Brotherston, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Paule Constable, Lighting Designer

Cordelia Braithwaite, Dancer

Paris Fitzpatrick, Dancer

Danny Reubens, Dancer

Daisy May Kemp, Dancer

Andrew Monaghan, Dancer

Monique Jonas, Dancer

Ben Brown, Dancer

The Red Shoes: dazzling dance drama at Sadler’s Wells

Deborah Weiss, 10th December

Stunning visually, Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes makes a triumphant return to Sadler's Wells, with New Adventures at the top of its game.

*****

30 years on, Bourne’s Swan Lake still shines in Amsterdam

Mark Vicente, 30th October

Thirty years after its original production, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake makes its return to the stage championed by an impressive ensemble of dance artists from Bourne’s own company New Adventures.

*****

Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell: emotionally compelling

Amanda Jennings, 12th June

In The Midnight Bell, Sir Matthew Bourne has produced some of his best choreography, loose and free-flowing but tense with desire and mixed with dread.

****1

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake: breathtakingly clear action

Amanda Jennings, 12th December

Bourne has created an extraordinary legacy. His Swan Lake will remain relevant for generations to come.

****1

Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet: a 21st century love story

Naomi Mori, 10th April

Sir Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures brought its groundbreaking Romeo and Juliet to Tokyo for the first time and wowed the audience with its magical storytelling.

*****

Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands: a huge cut above average

Deborah Weiss, 13th December

Bourne's Edward Scissorhands may not have quite the dramatic impact of his Romeo and Juliet or Swan Lake, but there is much to applaud and enjoy.

****1

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Deborah Weiss

Deb joined Bachtrack in 2022 and commissions reviews and writing on ballet and dance. She was Royal Ballet School-trained and is a former principal dancer for companies including London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) and Bayerisches Staatsballett. She has been writing for more than 30 years – publications have included Dancing Times, DanceTabs, Dance for You and Dance Europe. She also interviews for Voices of British Ballet, an oral archive of people who have worked in the industry in the UK. In addition to her writing, since 2016 she has been facilitating programmes that support victims of domestic abuse. Deb is passionate about her rescue dog, Bruce, and daughters (not in that order), swims a mile at least five days a week and is an avid reader.