Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes

 What a festive treat I was invited to, and a star-studded one at that. Matthew Bourne's ballets are always the ones to watch, and this award-winning 2016 version of The Red Shoes is back for another run. It's stunning, heart-breaking, and passionate - maybe not exactly Christmassy, but definitely unforgettable. Sadler's Wells Theatre kindly invited me to the gala performance, where (ahem, prepare for shameless name-dropping) I shared a row in the circle with Lee Mack, Jason Watkins and Andy Serkis to name a few. We enjoyed a drinks reception afterwards, and the mesmerising performance was on everyone's minds. Those of us who are fans of the 1948 iconic film couldn't help compare scenes, including that (sniff) ending, and felt Bourne had captured the magic of the movie whilst making the ballet his own. The Red Shoes is on until the 19th January 2020, book here.