Matthew Bourne's SLEEPING BEAUTY Coming to Lyceum Theatre This Month

New Adventures return to the Lyceum Theatre this month with Matthew Bourne's dazzling production of Sleeping Beauty, the final piece in his trio of Tchaikovsky masterpieces, from Tuesday 17 - Saturday 21 May.

A romantic gothic tale for all ages Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty is a re-telling of the traditional fairytale of good versus evil turned upside-down to create a supernatural love story that even the passage of time itself cannot hinder.

Sleeping Beauty was turned into a legendary ballet by Tchaikovsky and choreographer, Marius Petipa, in 1890. Bourne takes this date as his starting point, setting the Christening of Aurora, the story's heroine, in the year of the ballet's first performance; the height of the Fin-de-Siècle period when fairies, vampires and decadent opulence fed the gothic imagination.

Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty is at the Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 17 - Saturday 21 May. Tickets are priced from £21.00 - £39.00, and can be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0114 249 6000 or by visiting sheffieldtheatres.co.uk (a transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office, excluding cash).

Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty premiered in 2012, and was the fastest selling production in the company's history. It has won the hearts of thousands and smashed box office records across the UK and at Sadler's Wells.

Bourne's production introduces several characters not seen in Petipa's famous Ballet or Grimm's fairy tale. His imaginary kingdom is ruled over by King Benedict and Queen Eleanor whilst Princess Aurora's romantic interest is not a Prince, but the royal gamekeeper, Leo. Representing the central forces of good and evil are Count Lilac, the King of the Fairies and the Dark Fairy Carabosse. Bourne has also created the character of Caradoc, the sinister but charming son of Carabosse. Princess Aurora's Fairy Godparents are characterised by their names - Ardor, Hibernia, Autumnus, Feral and Tantrum.

Rising star Ashley Shaw returns to the central role of Aurora. Her recent roles include Lana in the The Car Man and Kim in Edward Scissorhands, Sugar in Nutcracker! and the title role in Cinderella. Cordelia Braithwaite makes her debut as Aurora, having first danced with New Adventures in Swan Lake in 2013, she featured in the recent revival of The Car Man, covering the role of Lana. This is her first Principal role with New Adventures.

The leading role of Leo is played by Dominic North and Chris Trenfield who co-created the role in 2012. Count Lilac is portrayed by Christopher Marney and Liam Mower. Liam is the Olivier award-winning original star of the West End hit Billy Elliot.

The twin roles of Carabosse and Caradoc are shared by Adam Maskell and Tom Clark who makes his debut in a Principal role with New Adventures.

King Benedict is played by Will Bozier (Edward Scissorhands) Glenn Graham (Swan Lake, The Angel in Cinderella and The Car Man) and Chris Trenfield. Queen Eleanor by Pia Driver (Swan Lake, The Car Man, Edward Scissorhands), Nicole Kabera (Edward Scissorhands, Nutcracker!, The Car Man, Swan Lake) and Katie Webb (Swan Lake, The Car Man).

Completing the Sleeping Beauty Company are Jack Jones, Mari Kamata, Phil King, Dominic Lamb, Dena Lague, Katy Lowenhoff, Katrina Lyndon, Kate Lyons, Andrew Monaghan, Leon Moran and Danny Reubens.