There are two Sleeping Beautys in town this season (the other is Hex at the National Theatre) but neither is what you’d call festive. Matthew Bourne, in his returning production at Sadler’s Wells, takes Tchaikovsky’s classic storybook ballet and goths it up. Cue thunderstorms, ear-splitting howls, scary fairies and cursed weddings. Oh, and vampires too.
The original ballet is long on melody, short on plot. Bourne, dance’s most committed storyteller, tries to ensure that the tale of an evil spell relieved by true love’s kiss doesn’t lose momentum. It isn’t seamless, but is always entertaining and delivered with panache.
