Matthew Bourne's dance piece based on the Tim Burton classic Edward Scissorhands will premiere in London late this year.The show will first play Plymouth's Theatre Royal from November 14-19th in a trial run before moving to London's Sadler's Wells on November 22nd, with a closing date set at February 6th, 2006; the official opening will be on November 30th.Edwards Scissorhands will tell through dance the story that the 1990 Johnny Depp-starrer first unspooled: that of a socially-crippled man with scissors for hands who becomes fascinated with a young woman (played by Winona Ryder in the film). Dancers Richard Winsor and Sam Archer (both of whom have appeared in 3 other Bourne shows) will switch off in the gothically-attired title role, while Bourne's frequent collaborators Scott Ambler and Etta Murfitt will also be on hand for the production (as associate directors, with Murfitt co-starring in the piece). Terry Davies, with whom Bourne worked on The Car Man and Play Without Words, will adapt his music from the film score written by Danny Elfman.
One of the most successful choreographers working today, Bourne takes his inspiration from films (The Car Man, based upon The Postman Always Rings Twice, Play Without Words, based on Joseph Losey's The Servant), and from classics (Nutcracker!, Highland Fling). His Swan Lake was a smash on both sides of the Atlantic, and picked up two 1999 Tonys, with Bourne garnering the awards for Best Choreography and Best Direction of a Musical; the show stirred up some controversy, too, regarding dance pieces and the Tonys. As for his musical theatre credits, Bourne choreographed Trevor Nunn's revivals of My Fair Lady and South Pacific, as well as co-directing Mary Poppins with Richard Eyre.It was recently announced that My Fair Lady will set off on a UK tour before opening on Broadway in 2006. In addition, Highland Fling will play Sadler's Wells in summer 2005, and Swan Lake will also return to international stages as it dances from touring the U.K. to Paris to the States in 2006.
For more information about Edward Scissorhands, call the Plymouth Theatre Royal on (0)1752 267222, or Sadler's Wells on (0)870 737 7737.
