Overview
Matthew Bourne’s Early Adventures returned in 2017, as part of the company’s 30th Anniversary celebrations.
With designs by long-time collaborator Lez Brotherston, Matthew returns to his roots with a programme of hit pieces that launched his career and saw the birth of the style, wit and sheer entertainment that have become hallmarks of the New Adventures company today.
PROGRAMME INCLUDES:
Spitfire
'an advertisement divertissement'
Bourne's first hit in 1988 that hilariously places the most famous 19th century ballet show stopper in the world of men's underwear advertising. (2012 tour only)
The Infernal Galop
A French dance with English subtitles
This is France as seen by the uptight English imagination, with all the traditional clichés joyously paraded for our entertainment and climaxing in Offenbach's inevitable Can-Can!
Town and Country
Moving and hilarious, this heartfelt pastiche explores notions of national character from a bygone era through the evocative music of Edward Elgar, Noël Coward and Percy Grainger, amongst others.
Watch with Mother
Seen but not heard?
Conkers, Hopscotch, Doctors & Nurses; Children’s games can be all-consuming, competitive and sometimes cruel. Based on Joyce Grenfell’s famous “Nursery School” sketches (“George… Don’t do that”) and set to Percy Grainger’s own piano compositions and arrangements of Bach and Faure, this 1991 piece returned after not being seen for 25 years.(2017 tour only)
Contains some adult humour. May not be suitable for under-12s.
The History of the Show
Early Adventures is a compilation of some of Matthew Bourne's early works and originally toured in 2012 as part of the company's 25th anniversary celebrations. The 2012 triple bill included Spitfire, The Infernal Galop and Town & Country.
Early Adventures then toured the UK and to Madrid and Los Angeles from February to May 2017 as part of the company's 30th anniversary celebrations and included The Infernal Galop, Town & Country and Watch with Mother.
Company
Photos & Videos
News
Awards & Reviews
OLIVIER AWARDS 1992
Nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for Town & Country
Watch with Mother listed in the Top 10 best Dance of 2017 by Luke Jennings for the Guardian