Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake

We filmed Matthew Bourne's most iconic production for Sky Arts and for cinema screenings in 2019.

Available to buy in the Film shop

First seen in 1995, Matthew Bourne’s iconic Swan Lake was revived and re-made in 2019 and filmed by Illuminations for cinema screenings and for Sky Arts. In his re-imagining of the classic tale, Bourne replaced the female ensemble with more menacing male swans creating a darker ambiance for the production.

Noted for smashing traditional gender roles, Bourne’s interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s ballet is highly regarded as a fresh take on the piece for the 21st century. The dancers tell the tale of a lonely prince, with a distant mother and not a friend in the world. As the prince yearns for freedom, it comes to him in an unlikely way, through a swan.

The on-screen version was recorded during the show’s run at Sadler’s Wells. Ross MacGibbon acted as screen director and Lucie Conrad as producer. Ross and Lucie have also collaborated with New Adventures and Matthew Bourne on our previous productions of The Car Man and Cinderella, both of which are now available on DVD and Blu-ray.