This was absolutely riveting! Matthew Bourne is a storyteller in the best tradition of that art; he keeps the core myth and then embroiders on it - echoing Broomhilda, the green-faced witch of Sunday comics opining about history - "History's kinda like a mixed drink; y'just keep addin' to it 'til you get it the way y'want it!" All stories, plays, operas, ballets, were products of imagination; what Bourne does is to re-imagine the imaginings, which he does so brilliantly. Watching some of the preparations for the show was a fascinating insight into the creative process. As for Drumgoole (doesn't that sound like a Gilbertian villain?) . . . he credits Bourne for knowing/doing thus-and-so, but in the next breath takes it away by administering a snarky slap, sounding like the three salesmen on the train in "The Music Man" as they discuss a newcomer to their territory: "But he DOESN'T know the territory!" Drumgoole echoes Bunthorne, who sings, "Of course you will pooh-pooh whatever’s fresh and new, and declare it’s crude and mean, / For Art stopped short in the cultivated court of the Empress Josephine." Matthew Bourne is a genius at taking the familiar and making it new and exciting; long may he create new works, and new works from old.
Very interesting, thank you for sharing. I saw Matthew Bournes Cinderella at Birmingham and it made me cry and gasp, it was pure magic. So glad I’ve seen both the live show *and* this, as the Southbank Show was not something I enjoyed in the 90s. Yet it’s fantastic to to see the making of.
great to watch Scott Ambler and Adam Cooper working on Cindirella. Nice historical video.
This was absolutely riveting! Matthew Bourne is a storyteller in the best tradition of that art; he keeps the core myth and then embroiders on it - echoing Broomhilda, the green-faced witch of Sunday comics opining about history - "History's kinda like a mixed drink; y'just keep addin' to it 'til you get it the way y'want it!"
All stories, plays, operas, ballets, were products of imagination; what Bourne does is to re-imagine the imaginings, which he does so brilliantly. Watching some of the preparations for the show was a fascinating insight into the creative process.
As for Drumgoole (doesn't that sound like a Gilbertian villain?) . . . he credits Bourne for knowing/doing thus-and-so, but in the next breath takes it away by administering a snarky slap, sounding like the three salesmen on the train in "The Music Man" as they discuss a newcomer to their territory: "But he DOESN'T know the territory!" Drumgoole echoes Bunthorne, who sings, "Of course you will pooh-pooh whatever’s fresh and new, and declare it’s crude and mean, / For Art stopped short in the cultivated court of the Empress Josephine."
Matthew Bourne is a genius at taking the familiar and making it new and exciting; long may he create new works, and new works from old.
It was wonderful for us at Roger Ascham to have her joyful expertise last year. The legacy will continue.
Very interesting, thank you for sharing.
I saw Matthew Bournes Cinderella at Birmingham and it made me cry and gasp, it was pure magic.
So glad I’ve seen both the live show *and* this, as the Southbank Show was not something I enjoyed in the 90s. Yet it’s fantastic to to see the making of.
10:04 et seq - Just noticed a small sculpture on the mantelpiece . . . seems to be a Matthew Bourne swan based on the rather shaggy legs . . . .
T thumbnail is for Mathew bournes swan lake
woah i didnt know thanks
Is the train station frozen yet coin operator
Or is it a twilight with red riding hood on route
Oh it's a princess bride leaving from the chapel