Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures to perform free shows in local communities

Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, in partnership with Farnham Maltings, has brought back Doorstep Duets, which tours communities across the south east until 10 September 2024.

Now in its fourth year, Doorstep Duets continues to provide free access to dance performances, bringing dance directly to local neighbourhoods, parks, and community spaces. The initiative aims to make dance more accessible and engage audiences who may not typically experience live theatre.

The tour has performances scheduled in Woking, Faversham, Canterbury, Dover, Ramsgate, Margate, Colchester, Norwich, and various locations throughout Surrey and Norfolk.

This year’s tour includes visits to care homes, youth clubs, libraries, children’s hospices, and a men’s mental health group in Farnham. Additionally, performances is being live-streamed, extending the reach of Doorstep Duets beyond the physical tour locations.

This year’s piece, Hum, is choreographed by Anjali Mehra with original music by Grammy-nominated vocalist and composer Luke Brady. The work explores how a small act of kindness can ripple out to create a sense of community, drawing inspiration from the actions of a hummingbird in the rainforest.

Hum will be performed by New Adventures dancers Anna Maria de Freitas, Luke Murphy, Holly Saw, Molly Shaw-Downie, Xavier Andriambolanoro Sotiya, and Mami Tomotani.

Mehra commented: “Bringing dance to those who might not normally experience live theatre is crucial. Doorstep Duets plays a significant role in reaching communities that, for various reasons, would otherwise not have access to live dance. I encourage those unfamiliar with dance to attend a performance of Hum and discover the joy that shared experiences in dance can bring.”

Mehra joined New Adventures in 1999 and has since transitioned to focus on choreography and movement direction. Her work includes projects such as The Lord of The Rings at the Watermill Theatre and Flowers for Mrs Harris at Riverside Studios. Currently, she serves as movement director for Tupperware of Ashes at the National Theatre.