Photos

1st Night Photos: O’Grady & Fry Get Bourne Again

Theo Bosanquet
London's West End

A plethora of stars including Paul O’Grady, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Dawn French and Elaine Paige turned out last week to celebrate the return of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake to Sadler’s Wells.

The legendary production, with its all-male corps of swans, premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 1995 before becoming the longest running ballet in both the West End and on Broadway, where it won three Tony Awards (Best Director of a Musical and Best Choreographer for Bourne and Best Costume Design for Lez Brotherston). Its many other prizes include a South Bank Show award and an Olivier for Best New Dance Production. It has returned to London several times since, including its tenth anniversary run at Sadler’s Wells in 2004/05.

At last Thursday’s press night (10 December 2009), Bourne took to the stage at the curtain call to share the plaudits with the company, which is led by Christopher Marney (The Prince), Nina Goldman (The Queen) Madelaine Brennan (The Girlfriend) and Richard Winsor (The Swan).

Fry ‘tweeted’ the following day: “Swan Lake last night. Magnificent. Dancing is not really my thing, but I make an exception in the case of Matthew Bourne and co.”

TO SCROLL THROUGH ALL OF SWAN LAKE’s 1st NIGHT PHOTOS,
JUST CLICK ON THE “NEXT >” LINKS BELOW THE FOLLOWING FRAME.
PHOTOS BY DAN WOOLLER FOR WHATSONSTAGE.COM.

Swan Lake continues at Sadler’s Wells for a strictly limited season to 24 January 2010.