The Red Shoes - The Lowry

Enchanting - Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes.

BALLET fans are getting an early Christmas present this week, in the shape of Matthew Bourne’s magical and uplifting production of The Red Shoes.

It was an evening of world class ballet which made it a total mystery as to why the majority of the audience stayed seated when it was time for the final curtain.

Even as a relative newcomer to the genre I think its fair for me to say I know a good thing when I see it, including on a stage.

Based on a fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderssen, The Red Shoes is the story of Victoria Page, a young and gifted ballet dance forced to choose between true love and an insatiable urge to dance.

I don’t want to spoil the ending but rest assured, its sure to have a lasting impression on audiences in Salford.

While I wouldn’t count myself as a ballet fan the conversion process is rapidly taking more and more conversion steps the more Bourne production I get too see as he is without doubt one of our country’s most exciting and innovative choreographers and The Red Shoes is sure win him and his company New Adventures many more admirers.

It was freezing cold when I went to The Lowry on Tuesday night on a dark, dank winter’s evening. What a better antidote to this dreadful time of year - nearly two hours of ballet performed against a backdrop of a sumptuos score.

Enjoy.

Until November 29. The box office is on 0343 208 6000 and you can also book online at www.thelowry.com.

Star rating - 4.5 out of 5..