Review, Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes, At The Lowry Manchester

Last night, we had the pleasure of experiencing Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes at The Lowry, Manchester. A perfect way to begin was by reading through the programme. The interview with Matthew Bourne is simply captivating; he is clearly at the very pinnacle of his profession, a record-breaking nine-time Olivier Award winner and the only British director to have claimed both Best Choreographer and Best Director of a Musical.

In the programme, Bourne shares a quote from the legendary American actress Katharine Hepburn. When asked what ‘star quality’ was, she famously replied: “I don’t know, but I’ve got it.” Last night, it was clear that every dancer on stage possessed that very magic. Each performer radiated their own unique star quality, captivating the audience in every single moment.

What Is Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes About

Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes is a contemporary dance adaptation of the classic 1948 film directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, which itself was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale. Bourne’s version premiered in 2016 and is known for his signature theatrical style, dramatic storytelling through dance, with bold choreography and inventive staging.

The ballet follows Victoria Page, a young ballerina with a dream of dancing on stage. She joins the prestigious ballet company of Boris Lermontov, a charismatic but controlling impresario. Victoria is torn between her love for Julian Craster, a young composer, and her devotion to ballet. Lermontov is obsessed with his dancers’ dedication, famously saying, “If you love to dance, you must give up everything else.”

The narrative focuses on ambition, obsession, and the sacrifices artists make for their art. The titular red shoes symbolise Victoria’s passion and the destructive power of obsession. Once she wears them, she cannot stop dancing, even when it threatens her health and happiness.

Our Review

Wow, where do I even begin? Words like beautiful, elegant, mesmerising, dramatic, and flawless come to mind when describing the Red Shoes ballet cast. Each performer fully inhabited their moment on stage, effortlessly commanding the audience’s attention with every movement.

The silence in the theatre was absolute, you could have heard a pin drop, as the cast completely immersed everyone in the story.

While it feels almost impossible to single out any one performance, as every dancer was exceptional, I must highlight Ashley Shaw. She moved and danced as if she had stepped straight out of the original film. Any young ballet performer would surely dream of performing on stage with such poise, grace, and presence. I would not hesitate to book another production featuring her in the lead.

The music in this production was enchanting, perfectly capturing the emotions and nuances of each scene. The staging and lighting, though more understated than typical musical theatre shows, were masterfully executed, allowing the story and the dancers to shine with effortless clarity.

Where Can I See The Red Shoes

The Red Shoes is showing at the Lyric Theatre, The Lowry, Manchester, until 28th November with tickets from £21.

And then showing at …….

• King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 27 Jan – Sat 31 Jan 2026
• Milton Keynes Theatre, Tue 10 Feb – Sat 14 Feb 2026
• New Victoria Theatre, Woking, Tue 17 Feb – Sat 21 Feb 2026
• Liverpool Empire, Tue 24 Feb – Sat 28 Feb 2026

Disclaimer: I was gifted the tickets, but it is my decision whether to review. However, all opinions are my own.