Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Soars in Woking
A flock of Matthew Bourne’s swans has flown into the New Victoria Theatre in Woking and is soaring to new heights.
Jackson Fisch as The Swan and the company
Renowned British choreographer Bourne, celebrated for reimagining classics, once again reshapes Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Traditionally, the ballet tells the tale of Princess Odette, cursed to live as a swan by the evil von Rothbart, who falls in love with a Prince destined to break the spell. Bourne takes this classic and infuses it with strikingly contemporary features.
Stephen Murray as The Prince and the company
Here, we follow a troubled young The Prince (James Lovell), starved of affection from his distant mother, The Queen (Katrina Lyndon). Restless with the constraints of royal life, he is drawn to the playful and carefree The Girlfriend (Bryony Wood). Believing he can never truly have her, his world shifts when he encounters an all-male flock of swans. Among them, he is captivated by their bold leader, The Swan (Harrison Dowzell), who bears an uncanny resemblance to The Stranger at the royal ball — a dangerously magnetic presence who flirts with everyone in sight, even The Queen. Torn between duty, desire, and his own inner turmoil, The Prince is forced to confront the depths of his own mind.
Stephen Murray as The Prince and Nicole Kabera as The Queen
Bourne’s genre-defying and gender-bending choices are what make this production uniquely his own. The most striking difference is the transformation of the swans: no longer romantic women in tutus, but a powerful male ensemble. Watching their strength, precision, and synchronicity command a stage so often dominated by female dancers is both thrilling and unforgettable. It takes the typical graceful, soft imagery of the swans and turns it on its head, presenting them instead as fierce and formidable, offering the audience a new way to experience both the music and the narrative.
Stephen Murray as The Prince and the company
The choreography sharply contrasts with the soft, curved, and fluid lines of classical ballet, particularly in portrayals of delicate, magical female swans. Bourne replaces this with a mesmerising new vocabulary of sharp, straight, angular movements, heavy footwork, audible aligned breaths and soaring leaps. This physicality makes the swans raw, grounded, and undeniably powerful.
Bryony Wood as The Girlfriend and the company
Equally compelling are the contemporary touches threaded through the show, paparazzi flashes, nightclub settings, and choreography that fuses jazz, naturalistic swan-like gestures, and classical ballet technique. The tender yet complex love story between The Prince and The Swan offers a refreshing departure from the traditionally heteronormative framework of classical ballet, reframing The Prince’s inner conflict as a journey of self-discovery and the realisation of his true desires.
Stephen Murray as The Prince and Jackson Fisch as The Swan
These elements root the story in a modern world while still honouring Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. Altogether, these uniquely Bourne touches breathe fresh and invigorating life into a classic masterpiece.
Stephen Murray as The Prince
While the majority of the show is straightforward and its ending clear, Bourne leaves certain elements deliberately vague and open to interpretation. You leave the theatre not just moved, but also piecing together unanswered threads, still turning the story over in your mind.
Stephen Murray as The Prince
Whether you’re a seasoned ballet devotee or a newcomer to the art form, this Swan Lake is an unmissable experience that opens its wings to audiences of every kind. It’s playing in Woking until September 27, 2025, before flying to its final stop at the New Wimbledon Theatre, where it runs until October 4, 2025.
★★★★★
Buy tickets here.
Jackson Fisch as The Swan and Stephen Murray as The Prince
Gifted press tickets
