Matthew Bourne's Cinderella in cinemas nationwide

Choreographer Matthew Bourne's reworking of Cinderella as a romance transposed to London during the Blitz was last Christmas' sold out offering at Sadler's Wells; and was broadcast by the BBC as part of its festive programming.

If you missed it then, you have the chance to catch up when the film of that production comes to a cinema near you in May. As a special bonus, the screening will be followed by a Live Q & A with Matthew Bourne.

He will surely be quizzed about the process of reimagining the traditional tale, which has become the trademark of his oeuvre. In the case of Cinderella Bourne chose to make the action contemporaneous with Prokofiev's romantic, yet sombre score, which was written during World War II.

Here Cinderella is still a put upon girl in a household of grotesques; but her Prince is now a dashing airman, and in pure Bourne style, the Fairy Godmother becomes a male angel.


Though respecting the bare bones of the Cinderella story, the plot becomes complicated by the addition of sub-plots and dream sequences, not all of which add to the smooth progression of the narrative. But its centrepiece, the ball scene, is truly memorable

Bourne’s Cinderella is a treat for the eyes with its sumptuous sets and costumes by Lez Brotherson and lighting by Neil Austin, both of which won Olivier Awards when the work premiered 20 years ago.