Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake returns for 30th anniversary tour

As rehearsals begin for Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, the cast recreated moments from this iconic dance production in costume on the lake in St James’ Park, in Trafalgar Square and outside Sadler’s Wells in London.

The cast photographed are Matthew Amos, Xavier Andriambolanoro-Sotiya, Ben Brown, Perreira de Jesus Franque, Jackson Fisch, Rory Macleod, Leonardo McCorkindale, Harry Ondrak-Wright and Barnaby Quarendon.

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake returns for a 30th anniversary tour beginning at Theatre Royal Plymouth on 11 November before visiting The Lowry, Salford from 19 November, ahead of the 8-week annual Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells from 3 December and a 2025 UK tour.

This groundbreaking production of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece caused a sensation when it premiered almost 30 years ago and has since become the most successful dance theatre production of all time. Thrilling, bold, witty and emotive, this genre-defining event is still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble, which shattered convention, turning tradition on its head.

First staged at Sadler’s Wells in London in 1995, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake took the dance theatre world by storm becoming the longest running full-length dance classic in the West End and on Broadway. It has since been performed across the globe, collecting over thirty international accolades including the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production and three Tony Awards for Best Director of a Musical, Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.