Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty
Milton Keynes Theatre 

A beautiful, Gothic telling of Sleeping Beauty set against fantastic sets and the music of Tchaikovsky.

Like any traditional fairy tale it begins with “Once upon a time…..”

The Royal couples’ neglect of expressing their gratitude for their newly born daughter leads to events involving vampire fairies, betrayals, a virgin sacrifice, a tennis party, abduction and a palace gardener waiting around for a 100 years for his one true love.

This tale moves from late Victorian period, through Edwardian times to the present day, exceptionally cleverly done.

A fantastically glamorous set and costumes designed by the legendary Les Brotherston added to the music of Tchaikovsky, amazingly talented dancers - this was totally brilliant from start to finish.

The baby Aurora produces much laughter from the audience in the first Act  – very cleverly manipulated by blacked-out puppeteers.  Although I did find the baby a little bizarre and creepy at the end when Leo and Aurora consummate their marriage and all fly off to live "Happily Ever After..."

A travelator plays an intrinsic part giving a powerful sense of movement to the dramatic entrances and exits. 

I loved the sleepwalkers’ scene with the sleepwalkers weaving across the stage with arms outstretched then, unable to control their need for sleep, drop effortlessly to the moving floor.

The one disappointment is not to have a live orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s manipulated score.

Sleeping Beauty has all of Bourne’s trademark moves – especially in the nightclub scene.  Matthew Bourne never disappoints.

Lily B X