What price would you pay for perfection?
Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes has arrived at the Wales Millennium Centre last night, and I was lucky enough to be swept up in its world of beauty, obsession and heartbreak. From the very first moment, this production pulls you in with an emotionally rich performance that never loosens its grip.
The Red Shoes tells the story of Victoria Page, a young dancer torn between her love for dance and her love for composer Julian Craster. Drawn into the world of an ambitious ballet company, she becomes the centre of a production that mirrors her own life: a tale of passion, sacrifice and the consuming power of art. As the lines between performance and reality begin to blur, Victoria is forced to confront the cost of pursuing perfection — and the price of losing herself to it.
The production is anchored by a remarkable cast, with Hannah Kremer shining as Victoria Page, Reece Causton delivering a magnetic Boris Lermontov, and Leonardo McCorkindale offering a heartfelt Julian Craster. They are joined by a superb company including Holly Saw, Jackson Fisch and Liam Mower, each bringing precision and emotional weight to their roles.
The visual world of The Red Shoes is shaped by the exceptional work of Lez Brotherston, whose set and costume design is integral to the storytelling. The creative team — including lighting designer Paule Constable, sound designer Paul Groothuis, orchestrator Terry Davies, and associate director and choreographer Etta Murfitt — completes a production that is as stunning to look at as it is to experience.
What struck me most was the set — a design I won’t soon forget. Both delicate and elaborate, it told the story as vividly as the dancers themselves. The Red Shoes is a story within a story, and the staging allowed the audience to slip seamlessly between the worlds of theatre, fantasy and reality. Watching the revolving proscenium glide across the stage felt like witnessing the heartbeat of the production itself.
Matthew Bourne once again proves why he is a household name in ballet. His ability to create work that resonates with long‑time dance lovers and complete newcomers alike is unmatched. This production balances grandeur with intimacy, spectacle with emotional truth, and the result is nothing short of mesmerising.
The dancers delivered performances full of grace, precision and raw feeling. Every movement carried weight, every gesture meaning. It’s rare to see a piece where the choreography, music and design feel so perfectly intertwined, each element elevating the others.
The Red Shoes is a stunning display of beauty and craft — a production that lingers long after the final bow. If you’re looking for a piece of theatre that sweeps you up, breaks your heart a little, and leaves you breathless, this is one you cannot miss.
The Red Shoes will be at the Wales Millennium Centre until 7th March and tickets are selling out fast, so get yours here now!
You can find out more about Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes on their website, Facebook and Instagram!
And keep a look out for what’s going on at the Wales Millennium Centre on their website, Facebook and Instagram!
All photo credits to Johan Persson.
