THE MIDNIGHT BELL AT LOWRY, SALFORD
Review by Natalie Anglesey
I’ve been a huge fan of choreographer, director
and producer Matthew Bourne - or should I say now Sir Mathew Bourne, since the very beginning of what has proved to be
an illustrious career. Now the conclusion of his latest creation, The Midnight Bell arrives at
Lowry, Salford ahead of a 17-week countrywide tour. If you think the title
sounds like a pub- then you’d be right!
I promise you a rare treat because the cast features fourteen of New
Adventures’ finest leading actor/dancers. Many of whom will be familiar to fans
as we’ve enjoyed some of their previous work. Among them are Dominic
North, Liam Mower, Cordelia Braithwaite, Reece Causton, Glenn Graham, Daisy May Kemp, Hannah Kremer, Michela Meazza, Andy Monaghan, Bryony Pennington, Edwin Ray, Danny Reubens, Ashley Shaw and Alan Vincent. For nearly 30 years
these dancers have between them performed leading roles to critical acclaim in
every production in Bourne’s repertoire, in the UK and internationally.
Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures is an iconic, ground-breaking British
dance-theatre company, famous for telling stories with a unique theatrical
twist. Since 1987 it has changed the popularity of dance in Britain, creating
works that have altered the public perception of what is possible when it comes
to telling stories without words.
Matthew Bourne describes his cast: “This is, without doubt, the
finest company of quintessential New Adventures actor/dancers ever assembled
for a single production! Together they represent nearly 30 years of critically
acclaimed performances and created roles in my work. In fact, it would be hard
to imagine a cast more perfectly suited to the challenging world of Patrick
Hamilton and his exploration of the darker reaches of the human heart.
Set in 1930s London, when ordinary people emerged from cheap boarding houses
nightly to pour out their passions, hopes and dreams in the pubs and fog-bound streets
of Soho and Fitzrovia. Audiences can step inside The Midnight Bell, a tavern
where an eclectic gathering play out their lovelorn
affairs, frustrations, betrayals and
redemption. Its adult themes comes with a 14+ recommendation.
The Midnight Bell is inspired
by the work of the great English novelist Patrick Hamilton (Twenty
Thousand Streets Under The Sky, Hangover Square) who created some of
the most authentic fiction of his era; stories borne out of years of social
interactions with the working man and woman at his favourite location - the
London Pub. Premiered to great acclaim in 2021, it received five nominations
at the 2022 National Dance Awards, with Matthew Bourne winning the award for
Best Modern Choreography.
I'd already seen and thoroughly enjoyed part one of The Midnight Bell and it was fascinating to see the conclusion which continued to invoke the atmosphere of British films of the era.
Once again Matthew Bourne joins forces with the Olivier and Tony
award-winning team of Terry Davies (music), Lez Brotherston (set and costume
design), Paule Constable (lighting
design) and Paul Groothuis (sound
design).Matthew Bourne’s THE MIDNIGHT
BELL is at Lowry, Salford until Saturday 5th July 2025. There will be a
post-show talk featuring Sir Matthew Bourne on Fri 4th July. If
you’ve never seen their work I urge you to give yourself a treat.
Accessible Performances
Audio Description: Thu 3rd July at 7.30pm
Touch Tour: Thu 3rd July at 6.30pm
For more information and tickets visit www.thelowry.com.
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