Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands

I love Edward Scissorhands and I love Matthew Bourne, they are both quirky and different and together they provided a fabulous performance. I saw Edward Scissorhands at Birmingham Hippodrome but the tour has moved on now Woking but you can also catch it in Liverpool, Nottingham, Bristol, Southampton, Cardiff, Newcastle, Bradford, Norwich, Hull, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

We had some great seats in the wheelchair bay in the stalls. I have to admit it’s one of my favourite places, because although you can sit a lot closer you find it hard to concentrate on the entire stage. When there is such a lot going on sometimes it’s hard to focus. Of course when it’s a solo or just two dancing then being closer to the stage is better.

First performed in 2005 it’s great that Edward Scissorhands is touring again. It is based on the Tim Burton film and features the music of Danny Elfman and Terry Davies.

Some parts were laugh out loud funny, and some emotional and moving. The story was well presented with fantastic sets, but the dancing is simply amazing, a mixture of contemporary, classical and ballet. It keeps you mesmerised as you try to absorb every movement and every moment.

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?

The story sticks loosely to Tim Burton’s classic but in a more condensed way with more focus on the dancing and music. A love story between a young girl and a boy that shouldn’t really exist. We get the misunderstanding of the local town people going on appearance. Then the acceptance when they realise he has his usefulness and finally the blaming when things go wrong.

I went to the matinee and it was truly the best way to spend a Saturday!

Here’s the YouTube trailer

You are not allowed to take photographs during the performance so here are a couple from the Hippodrome Website.

I would definitely go and see Edward Scissorhands again. But then I probably say that about all the Matthew Bourne performances I’ve seen.

Here are some of the others I’ve reviewed.

Sleeping Beauty (the gothic version)

Cinderella (set in WWII)

Romeo + Juliette (set in a mental institution)

The Red Shoes

The Nutcracker (set in sweetie land!)

Are you a fan of Edward Scissorhands? Have you ever seen a Matthew Bourne ballet?

I have plenty more theatre trips planned this year. Next up is The Magic of Terry Pratchett by comedian Marc Burrows (This Sunday!) Then The Drifters Girl in April, Blood Brothers in May and Six in June. I think I need to get booking for later in the year!