Rating: 5/5

Matthew Bourne has often divided opinion. While he may have made ballet current and credible, stark traditionalists label his creative output 'dance theatre'. For while the Laban graduate applies the techniques of ballet to his work, his contemporary approach works against the set traditions of the discipline. However, anyone who has ever seen the fruits of his labour will be acutely aware, Bourne's creativity dispels any criticism, for the awesome beauty and captivating magic that underlie his work are sparking public imagination in a dance form that warrants greater appreciation. Having already revolutionised Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker' and 'Swan Lake', Bourne has opted for a trilogy, taking the tired 'Sleeping Beauty' and transforming it into an engaging Gothic treat. With critics and audiences already in awe of his mastery, can Bourne score a hat-trick with his Tchaikovsky treat?

With Bourne's 'Sleeping Beauty' set in a gothic world of fantasy, it bears little resemblance to Marius Petipa's 1890 original staging.

While Petipa took the uneventful tale and turned it into an epic ballet to match the dramatic twists and turns of Tchaikovsky's score, Bourne veers away from the bold movements, instead using his exquisite set and realistic storytelling to take centre stage. With the help of his designer, Lez Brotherston, Bourne's 'Sleeping Beauty' is a visual feast, with the combination of captivating choreography and colourful set proving truly mind-blowing.

However, it is not just the staging that impresses, for the clever storyteller in Bourne strikes again. From the laugh out loud opening sequence involving a cleverly puppeteered baby Aurora, through to the heart-racing drama of the awakening of Aurora, Bourne's ballet ticks every box that certifies it far more than a feast of ballet, transporting it to a true theatrical treat.

While Bourne amply fills the gaps in the drama with impressive routines, and clever stage tricks, at the core of the productions are some truly sensational dancers. While Hannah Vassallo is a truly convincing tomboy Aurora, who flits and flows through her teenage emotions, while enjoying an outrageously charged puppy love with Dominic North's Leo, it is Adam Maskell's Carabosse and Caradoc that really steal the show. Though Maskell's Caradoc is deliciously vindictive, it is his spell-binding Carabosse that sends a chill to
the very base of your spine.

Bourne has never been a traditionalist, but that should never deter an audience member. Bourne is a master of his craft and 'Sleeping Beauty' does not disappoint.