Matthew Bourne on his production of The Red Shoes

Few stories have captured the imagination of audiences quite like The Red Shoes. A haunting fairytale about ambition, love and the intoxicating power of art, it has inspired generations since it first appeared on screen in the 1948 film by visionary directors Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Now the story returns to the stage in spectacular style in Matthew Bourne’s acclaimed production, arriving at Newcastle Theatre Royal next month (Tue 28 Apr – Sat 9 May 2026). We caught up with Sir Matthew Bourne to find out more…

What is it about the story that attracts you to an adaption?

Set in the theatrical world of a touring ballet company, it is actually about dance and dancers. The film’s genius is to make that theatrical world at times surreal, larger than life and highly cinematic. My challenge will be to capture some of that surreal, sensuous quality within the more natural theatre setting.

What themes do you explore?

The main theme of The Red Shoes is love vs. art, or career vs. love. It is the love story of two young artists (one a dancer, one a composer) and the fight between that love and the lure of the highest artistic achievement as represented by Boris Lermontov, the dance company’s legendary impresario, who believes that you cannot be a great artist if distracted by human love! I have also explored how the fairy tale world of a ballet company and the stories it tells can actually blend into the real life tale of love, ambition and artistic and personal fulfilment, until the two are barely distinguishable.

Why will it speak to an audience?

In today’s culture everyone is very interested in what it takes to become a great performer or artist with the likes of TV and movies such as the X Factor, Black Swan and Strictly Come Dancing highlighting this and the question of what sacrifices need to be made. Audiences also love a backstage story, particularly one that gives insight into the art form. However, The Red Shoes is also a love story, a highly dramatic, even melodramatic tale, populated by a cast of colourful characters, glorious dancing and music. Not only do we represent the backstage life of a dance company, we also see them in performance in a range of theatrical productions (including the full length ballet, The Red Shoes). However, the heart of the story is a tragic real life triangular love story, overseen by the towering Svengali-like figure of Lermontov, representing art and the sacrifices it asks us to make.

What can you tell us about your ideas for the music and design?

With Terry Davies we have created a score from the early works of the genius film music composer, Bernard Herrmann. Herrmann is mostly famous for his scores for the films of Alfred Hitchcock, but the music for The Red Shoes is taken from an earlier period (1930‘s and 40’s). I have unearthed some great dance music as well as some beautiful music from movies such as The Ghost and Mrs Muir and Citizen Kane.

Lez Brotherston’s challenge has been to create an adaptable theatrical setting, (on stage and backstage) and a range of locations from London, to Paris to Monte Carlo, but to also allow for those flights of fancy that take us out of the literal theatrical world and into the sensuous and surreal world of the artistic experience and endeavour.

The Red Shoes plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Tue 28 Apr – Sat 9 May 2026. Tickets can be purchased here or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.