Edward Scissorhands

Presented by New Adventures, Martin McCallum and Marc Platt, Matthew Bourne’s magical dance production of Edward Scissorhands has carved a place in the hearts of audiences world-wide since its premiere in 2005.

Based on the classic Tim Burton movie and featuring the hauntingly beautiful music of Danny Elfman and Terry Davies, Bourne and his New Adventures Company return to this witty, bittersweet story of an incomplete boy left alone in a strange new world.

In a castle high on a hill lives Edward; a boy created by an eccentric inventor. When his creator dies he is left alone and unfinished with only scissors for hands until a kindly townswoman invites him to live with her suburban family. Can Edward find his place in the well-meaning community which struggles to see past his curious appearance to the innocence and gentleness within?

Presented by New Adventures, Martin McCallum and Marc Platt
Devised, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne
New music and arrangements by Terry Davies
Based on themes from the original motion picture score composed by Danny Elfman
Based on the original motion picture by arrangement with 20th Century Studios
Original story and motion picture directed by Tim Burton
Original screenplay, story and co-adaptation by Caroline Thompson
Designed by Lez Brotherston
Lighting designed by Howard Harrison
Sound designed by Paul Groothuis
By Special Arrangement with Buena Vista Theatricals

History of the Show

World Premiere: 14 Nov 2005 at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth

The original 2005–6 UK Tour began in Plymouth then played a Christmas season at London’s Sadler’s Wells (11 weeks), followed by seasons in Southampton, Salford, Norwich, Wimbledon, Cardiff, Birmingham, Woking, Nottingham, Glasgow, Newcastle, Wycombe, Bradford and Milton Keynes. The final show of the original company was 13 May 2006 after 401 performances.

In 2006–7 the company embarked on an extensive International Tour playing Seoul (2 weeks), Tokyo (3 weeks), San Francisco (5 weeks), Los Angeles, (3 weeks), Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington DC, St Louis (2 weeks), Brooklyn NY (3 weeks), Toronto, Saint Paul, Denver, Seattle (3 weeks)

2008–9 Revival: Sydney (3 weeks), Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne (2 weeks), Paris (4 weeks), Birmingham, Manchester, Wimbledon, Sadler’s Wells (7 weeks), Athens (2 weeks), Antwerp (final show 22 February 2009 after 585 performance). New Adventures became the first British dance company to play the iconic Sydney Opera House in 2009 with Edward Scissorhands.

The show returned for a major UK Tour in 2014/15, performing over 130 shows. The show opened in Plymouth in November 2014 before heading to Glasgow and Salford. The show then played a six week Christmas season at Sadler's Wells before heading to Woking, Nottingham, Liverpool, Norwich, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Bradford and Southampton before wrapping up in Cardiff after 18 weeks on tour.

Edward Scissorhands returned to UK theatres for the first time in 9 years in November 2023.

Sensory Adapted Performance

See the introduction to our Sensory Adapted Performance of Edward Scissorhands at Sadler's Wells and find out more about what a Sensory Adapted Performance is.

Audio Described Performances and Touch Tours