The Red Shoes coming to Wales Millennium Centre in March

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1 day ago
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The double Olivier Award-winning smash hit, Matthew Bourne's production of The Red Shoes, comes to Wales Millennium Centre, 3–7 March 2026.

Step into a world where ambition burns bright, passion is unstoppable and every step could change a life. Matthew Bourne’s stunning production of The Red Shoes comes to Cardiff, bringing the legendary Powell and Pressburger film to spellbinding life on stage.

This is a story of obsession, artistry and the intoxicating power of dance, where Victoria Page’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world collides with love, rivalry and fate itself. Her every movement is a reflection of desire and determination, a journey that dazzles, captivates and tugs at the heart.

Set to the mesmerising score of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, orchestrated by Terry Davies, this production is a feast for the senses. Every element shimmers, Lez Brotherston’s sumptuous sets and costumes transport you to the glamorous, treacherous world of Ballet Lermontov, Paule Constable’s lighting casts each scene in a dreamlike glow and Paul Groothuis’s sound design immerses you in the very heartbeat of the stage.

From glittering rehearsal rooms to haunting, fateful performances, Bourne fuses classical technique with his signature storytelling, creating moments of breathtaking beauty, heart-stopping tension and irresistible drama. The Red Shoes is a story of love, ambition, and sacrifice, where every pirouette, leap and fall carries the weight of destiny.

Matthew Bourne said:

“I’m thrilled to announce that 11 of the original cast of The Red Shoes, which premiered in 2016, are returning for this 10th Anniversary production, performing the roles they created, possibly, for the last time. This is something that no New Adventures fan will want to miss!

The Red Shoes was the culmination of a twenty-year ambition to bring Powell and Pressburger's seminal 1948 film to the stage. It was also a personal love letter to a life in theatre and dance.

This production was certainly a landmark event for New Adventures, becoming an instant classic and a beloved addition to our repertoire. I’m so happy to see it return this year, especially as our last tour in 2020 was sadly cut short by the pandemic and left many of our loyal audiences throughout the UK disappointed.

Prepare to be swept away. The Red Shoes is more than a ballet, it’s a mesmerising, spellbinding journey where life imitates art, dreams are both a gift and a curse and every step pulses with desire, danger, and dazzling brilliance.