Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands embarks on six-month UK tour
Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands will embark on an 18-venue UK tour in November.
Opening on 20 November 2023 at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth New Adventures‘ production will run until 25 May 2024 when it plays the final performance at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow [full tour dates below]. The tour includes a seven-week Christmas Season (5 December 2023 – 20 January 2024) at Sadler’s Wells in London.
Bourne says,
Never has the story of Edward Scissorhands been more timely. In an era when uniqueness and identity is both celebrated and reviled, its story of how we treat anyone who appears to be different in our communities is as poignant and relevant as when my dear friend Caroline Thompson wrote the screenplay for Tim Burton‘s legendary movie fable some 33 years ago.
The ballet tells the story of Edward, a boy created by an eccentric inventor. When his creator dies, he is left alone and unfinished with only scissors for hands. A kindly townswoman invites him to live with her suburban family, but can Edward find his place in the well-meaning community which struggles to see past his curious appearance to the innocence and gentleness within?
It is based on the Tim Burton movie and features the hauntingly beautiful music of Danny Elfman and Terry Davies, Bourne and his company, New Adventures return to this witty, bittersweet story of an incomplete boy left alone in a strange new world.
The production will star Liam Mower and Stephen Murray as Edward Scissorhands with Katrina Lyndon and Ashley Shaw as Kim Boggs. Featuring Kerry Biggin, Etta Murfitt and Mami Tomotani as Peg Boggs and Glenn Graham and Dominic North as Bill Boggs. Benjamin Barlow Bazeley and Ben Brown will play Jim Upton with Stephanie Billers, Nicole Kabera and Ashley Shaw as Joyce Monroe and James Lovell, Luke Murphy and Reece Causton as her husband, George.
Bourne adds,
Once again I am truly indebted to Caroline, Tim Burton and Danny Elfman for trusting us with their beloved tale. In fact, New Adventures is the only company in the world that performs Edward Scissorhands as a theatrical spectacle. One of the joys of our show is the generational casting. Our town of Harmony USA is made up of six families, a Mother, a Father, a Son and a Daughter (though this year we have also added a same-sex parent family for the first time). New Adventures truly is a family and never more so than in this production.
Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands premiered in 2005 and has had sell-out performances in America, Australia, Korea, Japan and Europe. It had its first major revival in 2014 and now returns to UK theatres for the first time in 9 years.
Edward Scissorhands is devised, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, with new music and arrangements by Terry Davies based on themes from the motion picture score composed by Danny Elfman. The show is based on the original motion picture by arrangement with 20th Century Studios, with original story and motion picture directed by Tim Burton, and original screenplay, story and co-adaptation by Caroline Thompson. The set and costumes are designed by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Howard Harrison and sound by Paul Groothuis.
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
TOUR DATES 2023/2024
2023
MONDAY 20 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH www.theatreroyal.com
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER – SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER
THE LOWRY, SALFORD www.thelowry.com
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER – SATURDAY 20 JANUARY 2024
SADLER’S WELLS, LONDON www.sadlerswells.com
ON SALE NOW
2024
TUESDAY 23 – SATURDAY 27 JANUARY
MARLOWE THEATRE, CANTERBURY – www.marlowetheatre.com
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 30 JANUARY – SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE – www.atgtickets.com/milton-keynes-theatre
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 6 – SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME – https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 13 – SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY
NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING – www.atgtickets.com/new-victoria-theatre
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 20 – SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY
LIVERPOOL EMPIRE – www.atgtickets.com/liverpool-empire
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 2 MARCH
THEATRE ROYAL, NOTTINGHAM – www.trch.co.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 5 – SATURDAY 9 MARCH
BRISTOL HIPPODROME – www.atgtickets.com/bristol-hippodrome
ON SALE NOW
WEDNESDAY 13 – SATURDAY 16 MARCH
MAYFLOWER THEATRE, SOUTHAMPTON – www.mayflower.org.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 19 – SATURDAY 23 MARCH
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF – www.wmc.org.uk
ON SALE NOW
WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH – SATURDAY 6 APRIL
NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL – www.theatreroyal.co.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 9 – SATURDAY 13 APRIL
THE ALHAMBRA, BRADFORD – www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 16 – SATURDAY 20 APRIL
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL – www.norwichtheatre.org
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 23 – SATURDAY 27 APRIL
HULL NEW THEATRE – www.hulltheatres.co.uk
ON SALE NOW
TUESDAY 14 – SATURDAY 18 MAY
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE – www.capitaltheatres.com
ON SALE SOON
TUESDAY 21 – SATURDAY 25 MAY
KING’S THEATRE, GLASGOW – www.atgtickets.com/theatre-royal-glasgow
ON SALE NOW
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
