Theatre Review: The Red Shoes – Stunning, intense & truly heart-breaking
The Red Shoes, Birmingham Hippodrome
BASED on the beloved fairytale and 1948 film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, this stunning adaptation of The Red Shoes follows the story of a gifted young girl who dreams of becoming the world’s greatest dancer but is emotionally torn between love and her need to dance.
The play begins in London showing how Victoria Page starts her career after catching the eye of impresario, Lermontov – who later inspires her further by choosing her as the leading lady for the play at the heart of the show, The Red Shoes.
For this play within the play, the stage is impressively transformed into a monochromatic set at the Monte Carlo Opera House where Victoria plays a woman struggling to balance passion and duty as she is drawn in by the bright allure of the ‘red shoes’, which consequently lead to her demise.
After the ballet, the proscenium arch rotates revealing that backstage, Victoria is also struggling with a similar ultimatum as she is seen kissing composer, Julian behind the curtain.
Ashley Shaw, who plays Victoria, gives an incredibly emotive performance as she convincingly portrays being mentally and physically pulled between the two men in her life, Lermentov and Julian.
Renowned for his incredible choreography for the likes of Swan Lake and the Nutcracker, this production by Matthew Bourne does not disappoint and constantly keeps the audience on the edge of their seats with flawless sequences delivered with both passion and intensity.
An especially powerful performance is given as Victoria and Julian – played by Chris Trenfield – engage in a heated debate and the red shoes make another appearance, assuming control of Victoria’s body and spirit.
But amidst the dark tones of the music and the sinister plot, there is humour, particularly in the overtly camp beach scene, the frivolous end of season party and the vivid portrayal of London’s East End.
Throughout, the two-act play the audience were taken on an emotional rollercoaster, creating laughter, tension, awe, sadness, shock and even empathy.
And though there are various twists and turns that leave the audience unsure of which path Victoria will choose, nothing quite prepares you for the shocking blow of the end scene which saw the majority of the audience standing.
Due to popular demand and selling out this week, the show will be making its return to Birmingham Hippodrome in July.
