Swan Lake (Bourne)
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake is a modern ballet by Matthew Bourne, based on Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. It is notable for having the swans danced by men and for reimagining the story in a contemporary style.
The piece premiered on 9 November 1995 at Sadler’s Wells in London with Bourne’s company, New Adventures. It became one of the longest-running productions in London's West End and on Broadway and has been staged around the world, including the UK, USA, Europe, Russia, Australia, and Asia.
In Bourne’s version, the plot centers on a young prince who longs for freedom and love. He falls for the lead Swan, who is under a curse cast by the sorcerer Von Rothbart. The romance unfolds through a journey that moves away from classical ballet into modern dance and jazz influences, including a nightclub sequence called the Swank Bar. The prince’s love for the Swan helps him cope with a difficult relationship with his mother and the demands of his royal role. The relationship faces betrayal and crisis, leading to a mental breakdown, an asylum ordeal, and a dramatic confrontation at a ball.
A key change in Bourne’s Swan Lake is the removal of the original von Rothbart conspiracy plot. The Private Secretary becomes a less villainous figure, and the identity of the Stranger remains deliberately ambiguous. The ballet’s most talked-about element is the corps of male swans and the sensual duets between the lead Swan and the Prince.
Musically, Bourne rearranged Tchaikovsky’s score, moving and omitting some numbers to fit the new storyline. The show’s look and mood blend parody, romance, and psychological drama, with costuming and design that nod to past ballets while breaking new ground.
A 3D film version filmed at Sadler’s Wells in 2012 introduced a new cast and was released in cinemas and on DVD. The production has won more than 30 international awards.
In this reinterpretation, the tale echoes the Ondine myth of a mortal lover rewarded or punished for love, but Bourne shifts the focus from Ondine to the Prince. The story remains one of doomed, transcendent love, now explored through a modern, male-centered take on the Swan.
Trivia: an adult version of the lead Swan character appears in the film Billy Elliot, where the young actor later becomes the lead Swan on screen.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 01:23 (CET).