Matthew Bourne's New Adventures

Matthew Bourne's New Adventures
Name	New Adventures
Founded	1992
Founder	Matthew Bourne
Location	London, England
Genre	Contemporary dance, Ballet, Dance theatre
Artistic director	Matthew Bourne

Matthew Bourne's New Adventures is a British dance company founded in 1992 by choreographer Matthew Bourne to present theatrical reinterpretations of classic ballets and original narrative works. The company became noted for reimagining canonical pieces through cinematic staging, popular music, and dramatic casting choices, achieving crossover appeal across theatre, opera, and film festivals. Its work has toured internationally and influenced contemporary choreography in institutions from London's West End to Broadway.

History and Formation

New Adventures originated after Matthew Bourne departed from Sadler's Wells Theatre associated companies and sought independent production through collaborations with producers such as Lynne Page and theatres like Old Vic. The early ensemble drew performers from training grounds including Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School, and regional companies such as Rambert Dance Company and Birmingham Royal Ballet. Initial funding and commissioning involved bodies like Arts Council England, private patrons, and partnerships with venues including Cambridge Arts Theatre and Sadler's Wells. The company consolidated its base in London while building ties with producers on the West End, Broadway, and European houses like Théâtre du Châtelet and Teatro Real.

Artistic Style and Innovations

New Adventures melds influences from Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Sir Frederick Ashton, and contemporary choreographers such as Pina Bausch and William Forsythe to create dance theatre that integrates narrative, character, and popular culture. Bourne’s aesthetic incorporates design collaborators from the world of film and fashion including set designers who worked with Baz Luhrmann and costume designers affiliated with Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Musically, productions have used arrangements from composers such as Gustav Mahler, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and contemporary composers like Tindersticks and Philip Glass, often remixed by arrangers connected to BBC Radio 3 and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Movement vocabulary blends classical ballet technique with signifiers drawn from jazz, modern dance, and popular dance references seen in work by artists linked to Madonna, David Bowie, and Michael Jackson through choreographic lineage. Dramaturgically, productions emphasize casting against type, dramatic silhouette, and cinematic pacing influenced by filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock and Federico Fellini.

Major Productions and Repertoire

Signature repertoire includes Bourne’s landmark reinterpretations: the gender-recast production of Swan Lake which premiered at Sadler's Wells and later transferred to the New London Theatre and Brooks Atkinson Theatre; a noir adaptation of The Red Shoes staged in collaboration with designers associated with Robert Altman-era aesthetics; and narrative pieces like Edward Scissorhands adapted from the film linked to Tim Burton's collaborators. Other major works have referenced literary and cinematic sources related to Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, and Charles Dickens and were presented alongside commissions for festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Aix-en-Provence Festival. The company repertoire also encompasses ensemble pieces premiered at institutions such as Royal Albert Hall, Royal Opera House, and touring venues including Kennedy Center.

Key Dancers and Collaborators

Principal performers who became closely associated with New Adventures include dancers who trained at Central School of Ballet and danced with companies like English National Ballet and Northern Ballet before joining the ensemble. Notable collaborators have included composers and musical directors with connections to BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Philharmonic Orchestra, costume designers linked to Royal College of Art alumni, and film directors who worked with Channel 4 and BBC Two on televised dance projects. Bourne’s creative team has featured producers with credits at Michael Grandage Company and lighting designers whose portfolios include productions promoted by National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company.

Critical Reception and Awards

New Adventures has received critical attention across outlets such as reviews in publications with ties to The Guardian, The Times, The New York Times, and arts critics associated with Financial Times and The Telegraph. The company’s awards include Laurence Olivier Awards presented by the Society of London Theatre, Evening Standard Theatre Awards, and nominations for Tony Awards after transfers to Broadway. Recognition has also come from institutions such as Critics' Circle and arts funding acknowledgments from Arts Council England and European cultural programmes linked to Creative Europe.

Touring, Residencies, and International Impact

The company has maintained extensive tours to venues including Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House, and festival appearances at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and Spoleto Festival USA, fostering partnerships with presenters such as Live Nation and arts organisations like International Theatre Institute. Residencies and education outreach have been conducted in collaboration with conservatoires like Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and universities including University of the Arts London. New Adventures' international impact can be traced through exchanges with companies such as Het Nationale Ballet, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, and contemporary ensembles that cite Bourne’s reinterpretive strategies in curricula at institutions like Juilliard School and Trinity Laban Conservatoire.

Category:British dance companies