British choreographer Matthew Bourne's all-male Swan Lake will be staged in Guangzhou from September 20th to 22nd, forming part of the 2019 Dance Festival presented by Guangzhou Opera House.

A stage photo of Matthew Bourne's all-male Swan Lake [Photo: Guangzhou Opera House]

Retaining iconic elements from the original production loved by millions around the world, Matthew Bourne and award-winning designers Lez Brotherston (Set & Costumes) and Paule Constable (Lighting) have created an exciting re-imagining of the classic production.

Thrilling, audacious, witty and emotive, this Swan Lake is perhaps still best known for replacing a female corps-de-ballet with a male ensemble, shattering convention, turning tradition upside down and taking the the dance world by storm.

Having picked up over thirty international accolades to date, including an Olivier Award and three Tonys on Broadway, Matthew Bourne’s powerful interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece is a Swan Lake for our times.

A stage photo of Matthew Bourne's all-male Swan Lake [Photo: Guangzhou Opera House]

The original Swan Lake was based on the story of Ondine, a German myth with traits of Romanticism that were adapted by Hans Christian Andersen for his story The Little Mermaid.

Bourne's Swan Lake radically reinterprets the myth. The focus of the ballet is turned away from the Ondine character to the man – the Prince. Below is a synopsis for those who are interested:

In this adaptation it is the Prince who struggles against repression and hopes for liberty, and who needs love to make him safe. In addition, it is not the mortal who is unfaithful to the nymph. Rather, it is the Swan who expresses love for the Prince, betrays him with the Stranger, before finally returning to him.

A stage photo of Matthew Bourne's all-male Swan Lake [Photo: Guangzhou Opera House]

Time: 7:30 pm, Friday, September 20th, 2019

      2:30pm & 7:30pm, September 21st-22nd, 2019

Ticket: RMB 180-880

Venue: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House

Add.: No. 1 Zhujiang Xilu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou

Nearby metro station: Zhujiang New Town, Line 3 or 5

Running time: 130 minutes (with 20 minute long intermission)

Author: Monica Liu

Editor: Simon Haywood