A Matthew Bourne dance production is best summed up by the lady to my side: “Bourne is for people who think they don’t like ballet!”

And whether they came for The Red Shoes, the glorious sets and costumes or Bernard Herrmann’s music, it was clear that there was an air of silent admiration in Bradford’s Alhambra last night, as New Adventures returned in style following their Covid cancellation in 2020.

However, I first saw the World Premier of The Red Shoes in 2017 and, even then, it made a big impression when Ashley Shaw brought Victoria Page to life while Sam Archer, who created the title role of Edward Scissorhands 12 years earlier, was the Svengali-like Impresario, Boris Lermentov.

But, last night, it was the turn of Cordelia Braithwaite and Reece Causton with Dominic North as struggling composer and love interest, Julian Craster.

They were all magnificent; absolute anchors, surrounded by a raft of strong, well-rehearsed dancers.

Based on the 1948 film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, who in turn were inspired by the original Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, this is a rich ballet at so many levels.

Bourne cleverly strings together some amazing set pieces, self-contained scenes if you like, that are key elements of the entire ballet but, equally, breathtaking in their own right: the Ballon de Plage with its near nod to Bob Fosse – colourful, stylish and vibrant - and the amazing Music Hall scene set in London’s East End which, somehow, features a ventriloquist, two burlesque dancers and a magnificent tribute to Wilson and Keppel’s sand dance! A triumph of imagination.

But as an overall piece The Red Shoes has seduced audiences and inspired generations of dancers for nigh on a decade, with its tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a battleground between the two men who inspire her passion.

Adapt and wrap a version of this 19th century fairytale in wonderful costumes, surround it in to-die-for sets and you have, hey presto, a Bourne winner, which is hardly surprising, considering that it originally reunited the company’s founder with his regular collaborators and the team that created the world-wide hit, Sleeping Beauty, Lez Brotherston (set and costumes), Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound).

It won two Olivier Awards and was honoured by the LA Critics’ Awards for both choreography and set and costume design.

Set to a score arranged by New Adventures Associate Artist, Terry Davies using the mesmerizing music of golden-age Hollywood composer, Bernard Herrmann, most famous for his collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles and Martin Scorsese, The Red Shoes, is an intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences. It will leave you quietly stunned.

“I never slept a wink,” said my somnolent guest. Praise indeed!

The Red Shoes
Alhambra, Bradford
Until Saturday