Bourne’s beautiful show fully deserved its standing ovation

From his all-male Swan Lake to his haunting adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, Bourne is known for his modern takes on classic fairytales, and this latest enchanting show was no different.

Originally created in 2005, Bourne has taken Tim Burton’s film Edward Scissorhands and used drama and dancing to bring it to life in a way no film ever could. Despite never uttering a single word, the dancers tell the story of a special boy desperate to find his place in the world.

Danced by Liam Mower and Dominic North, they perfectly capture the wide-eyed face and clunky gait established in Burton’s film. What makes this performance so special is its rich tapestry where no detail has been forgotten. The ever-changing scenery draws us into a fantasy world, the 1950s costumes are accurate but gorgeous and the music incorporates beloved melodies from the film as well as assisting in the storytelling.

At any one moment there is so much happening on stage it is difficult to know where to look – but this adds to the magic of the show as you could see it 100 times and still discover something new.

Although billed as a ballet, the show includes a wide range of dances, but the ballet is always the most spectacular. Each lift was clean-cut, group dances were perfectly co-ordinated, and characters were preserved through the dances. If anything, I would have loved to have seen even more ballet routines.

This utterly beautiful show earned my first ever standing ovation and was joined by the rest of the theatre thundering applause as snow fell around us. I could happily watch it every day.