Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes at Theatre Royal, Nottingham Review
Written by Hollie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Award-winning British Choreographer Matthew Bourne brings this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s Classic Fairytale to stages across the U.K. this year in a new tour, which begins at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal this week.
Based on the infamous 1948 film of the same name, starring Moira Shearer, this Olivier award-winning production is here to delight audiences across the country through the use of Bourne’s theatrical dance style whilst the story explores the themes of success and sacrifice as well as control and power.
A ballet within a ballet, this modern take on a classic fairy tale explores the life and career of Victoria Page, played by Cordelia Braithwaite, a rising star who struggles to realise and achieve her ambitions against the prying eyes of two men in her life. Ballet Impressario Boris Lermontov, played by Andy Monaghan and Julian Craster, a struggling composer, played by Dominic North, both battle for Victoria’s affections throughout the show. Their expectations of Victoria and themselves create drama and emotion throughout the production, and all three dancers provide humour, emotion and suspense.
The ensemble of dancers are perfectly poised as well as humorous and there were many laughs from the jam-packed auditorium throughout the production.
As the story travels from Covent Garden to Monte Carlo and from Paris to the East End, the ballet dancers were all impeccably talented and with the many shocks, twists and turns that twirl around the stage, the dancers use a lot of energy and bring drama and grace to their many roles.
Matthew Bourne has certainly drawn a crowd from afar with his varying styles of dance and use of facial expressions and body language that tell the true story behind how the characters are feeling. Lez Brotherston’s set design is incredible. With a dynamic and moveable stage which transforms constantly throughout the show, the set adds pace and energy to the story and is almost a character in itself.
Lez in his second role as costume designer brings glitter, colour and symbolism to the beautiful and ever-changing costumes that are provided on stage. The costumes and set together add life, colour and further emotion to the production and evoke a range of feelings in audience members as the story develops over time.
The Red Shoes themselves really are the main character here as well as they symbolise the obsession that the dancer has with her craft. The Red Shoes feel cheeky and happy as well as sombre and distraught at the same time.
The audience laughed, cried and stood for a standing ovation at the end of the show. I would highly recommend a visit as this show is for everyone at any age, not just those that are into ballet. What an incredible production!
This production of Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes continues at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal until Saturday 7th February 2026 before it continues on its UK Tour where it will stop at theatres including Liverpool’s Empire on 24th February, Birmingham Hippodrome from the 17th March and the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh from 14th April before it concludes at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal on the 9th May.
Upcoming dance productions at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal include Northern Ballet’s Gentleman Jack from Wednesday 13th May 2026 and Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man from Tuesday 22nd September 2026.
★★★★★
