Adam Cooper and Ashley Shaw have joined the cast of Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes at The Lowry, in Manchester from Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th November 2019. A 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.
The third time world famous, dancer, actor and choreographer, Adam Cooper has collaborated with Matthew Bourne. He first worked with Matthew in 1995 to create the iconic role of ‘The Swan’ in “Swan Lake”. He also famously portrayed ‘grown up Billy’ dancing as ‘The Swan’ in the 2000 film “Billy Elliot”. Adam’s many theatre credits include “Singin’ in the Rain”, “On Your Toes” and “Guys and Dolls”.
Ashley Shaw has most recently performed in the title role of Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella”. She returns to the role of ‘Victoria Page’ having first created it for the 2016 World Premiere Season.
Matthew Bourne said: “I’m proud that for nearly 20 years, New Adventures has built an unprecedented audience for dance throughout the UK, and for this national tour of The Red Shoes we will play over 200 performances across 21 leading regional large-scale theatres, more than any other UK dance company. We have an audience who are fiercely loyal, questioning and open-minded, as has been shown on the current tour of our radical reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet. As ever, I am grateful for their trust and enthusiastic support. I’m thrilled that for the first revival of our 2016 hit, “The Red Shoes”, most of the original leading cast will be returning including Ashley Shaw in her multi award-winning performance as Victoria Page. Along with several New Adventures rising stars, who will be performing in the production for the first time, I’m particularly excited to be re-united with my original Swan, the wonderful Adam Cooper, who joins us for the first time in twenty years.”
A sell-out before its world premiere season opened in 2016, Matthew Bourne’s triumphant adaptation of the legendary film returns in 2019, having won two Olivier Awards and dazzled audiences across the UK and the USA.
Set to the achingly romantic music of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, The Red Shoes is orchestrated by Terry Davies and played by the New Adventures Orchestra, with cinematic designs by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Paul Groothuis and projection design from Duncan McLean.
An intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences; “The Red Shoes” will dazzle your senses and break your heart.
Images © Johan Persson
