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Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Awkward Tina Turner musical makes you uncomfortable but still charms and thrills, like the star herself
Hovering uneasily between fun and ferocity, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is crammed with rousing hits but has the compressed drama of a cage fight Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is ambitious storytelling with a real edge; it hovers uncomfortably between a stark meditation on domestic violence in a black American context, and a redemptive feel-good story of the triumph of talent. The show opens with megastar Tina in her prime, about to go on stage at a monster concert. It then flashes back to her as a little girl in Nutbush, Tennessee, singing in church. Her mother, beaten by her father, flees the family home with Tina's sister, leaving Tina behind – a deep wound that haunts her life. Tina's own marriage to Ike Turner replicates this domestic violence scenario, in an intergenerational recycling of trauma. The script does not excuse Ike's violence, but does try to contextualise it among the major humiliations heaped on black male Americans in a deeply racist 1960s society.
Extra.ie
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
In Pics: Familiar faces flock to opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake
The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre was buzzing on Tuesday evening as audiences flocked to the opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. A mix of theatre lovers, dance fans, and familiar faces from the Irish social scene hit the red carpet for the much-anticipated return of Bourne's iconic production. Among those spotted were Katja Mia, Arthur Gourounlian, Zeinab Elgouzolui, Laura Nolan, Thalia Heffernan, Andrea Gilligan and Paul Quinn. Arthur Gourounlian at the opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Pic: Brian McEvoy Photography Nearly 30 years after it first turned the dance world upside down, Swan Lake is still as gripping and groundbreaking as ever. Zeinab Elguzouli at the opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Pic: Brian McEvoy Photography Bourne's bold decision to replace the traditional female swan corps with a powerful male ensemble shocked audiences when it premiered back in 1995 —and the impact hasn't faded. Laura Nolan at the opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Pic: Brian McEvoy Photography Since its debut at London's Sadler's Wells, the production has picked up a mountain of awards — including an Olivier and three Tonys — and toured worldwide, cementing its place as a true classic of modern dance theatre. Thalia Heffernan and her mother Susan Ebrill at the opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Pic: Brian McEvoy Photography Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake runs at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre until Saturday, May 24. Andrea Gilligan and Paul Quinn at the opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Pic: Brian McEvoy Photography
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake: Magical performance explains why show still enchants so many
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake: Next Generation Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin ★★★★★ The cast of Matthew Bourne 's Swan Lake interpret this show with the energy of fledgling dancers creating something for the first time, yet with the expert precision of sage performers. Sparks fly from the moment the prince reaches out to the queen for unrequited affection until the end when he tangles with the swan/stranger. In between are a humorous ballet pastiche, a sultry nightclub foray and the now infamous ritual-like dances for male swans. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this ballet has earned its recognition as one of the most beloved Swan Lake interpretations of all time. Bourne has created a production that is very unlike the traditional Swan Lake and has become so familiar to dance audiences that many current company members decided to pursue dance as a career after watching the show when they were young. In turn, the cast brings an irrepressible energy to the stage. Dublin native Stephen Murray dances a flawless interpretation of the prince, developing from an earnest yet downcast son to a hopeful young man who discovers another side of himself when encountering a mysterious swan (the superb Jackson Fisch) during a fraught evening at a park. READ MORE [ Irish Swan Lake star Stephen Murray: 'After the show you're emotionally drained. Leaving it on the stage is a big challenge' Opens in new window ] The prince's discovery unleashes an onslaught of male swans who bound across the stage in relentless leaps and lunges, punctuated with exquisitely timed wrist flicks and knee swivels. All of this convinces the prince he might be able to break free of the royal confines and express a part of himself that longs for acceptance. His hopes are dashed later at the palace ball when the swan, appearing as a stranger, makes a grand entrance. The stranger seduces the queen (an infallible Katrina Lydon) in a nod to the traditional Swan Lake where the white swan Odette deceptively reappears as the black swan, Odile. Here the stranger takes turns tantalising every female in the room, at the same time, driving the prince mad. One of the joys of Bourne's company, New Adventures, is its ensemble cast, and Jade Copas, another dancer from Ireland, dazzles as she introduces the men in the ballroom scene. Bourne has a gift for syncopation in his choreography that combines craftsmanship with theatricality and a touch of whimsy, such as the maids mechanically waving their upturned elbows or the silhouetted dancers in the nightclub swaying slightly offbeat. His ability to then inject humour while consistently maintaining such an impressive level of artistry has helped him build a decades-old reputation for successfully marrying commercial sensibilities with classical dance. He also has assembled a team of collaborators whose reputations have grown hand in hand with the company's, including set and costume designer Lez Brotherston and sound designer Ken Hampton. But perhaps his biggest accomplishment is the ability to lead a company whose dancers have worked together for years yet perform on a Tuesday night in Dublin with the same intensity as an opening night on Broadway. As distressing as it feels to watch the prince and his beloved swan suffer through their dramatic demise at the end of this show, there is satisfaction in the way Bourne does it. There's a flurry of drama punctuated with moments of stillness, engulfed by climactic music against a set that feels like its own character in how it morphs and comes to life. But mostly Bourne ignites the talent of each performer until they exude a sizzling energy that transcends dance steps, musical counts and character portrayals. He unearths their artistry and creates an alchemy that is mighty, and while this kind of magic may not happen during every performance, if even a fraction of it shines through on the show's pearl anniversary tour, bring on the next 30 years. Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake: Next Generation is at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre , as part of Dublin Dance Festival , until Saturday, May 24th
BreakingNews.ie
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Tom Brady and Joe Duffy among the guest on Friday's Late Late Show
Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady will be among the guests on The Late Late Show on Friday. In the season finale, Brady will reflect on his illustrious career and life beyond the field. Advertisement He will also discuss his Irish roots and his deep connection to Ireland. Girls Aloud member Nadine Coyle will join Patrick Kielty to reflect on the band's incredible legacy following their successful tour last year. It was an emotional journey back to the stage following the loss of friend and bandmate Sarah Harding. Following the announcement of his retirement, Joe Duffy will be in studio to chat about his longstanding 37-year career in broadcasting. Advertisement He will look back on some of the most memorable moments and the remarkable stories he covered live on air on RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline, and what could be next. Ahead of representing Ireland in the Eurovision in Switzerland next week, EMMY will discuss her whirlwind journey since being selected as the entry. EMMY also treats audiences to a special performance of her single Laika Party recorded in the Old Library in Trinity College Dublin, giving fans a taste of what's to come. Looking forward to The Tina Turner Musical arriving at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre later this month, The Late Late Show audience will get a sneak peak of what's to come with a live performance of a medley of Tina's classics.
Irish Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Irish Swan Lake star Stephen Murray: ‘After the show you're emotionally drained. Leaving it on the stage is a big challenge'
When Matthew Bourne 's Swan Lake premiered, 30 years ago, audiences embraced it with enthusiasm and some uncertainty. Never before had men taken the lead in a ballet known for its femininity; nor had a choreographer so bravely thrust together ballet and commercial dance . Back then some viewers baulked at the bare-chested men in feathers moving to Tchaikovsky's iconic score, yet in hindsight Bourne's Swan Lake foretold a future that would upend stereotypes in the dance world and the culture at large. His powerful swans ushered in a groundbreaking new era in dance, paving the way for collaboration between genres. Bourne's updated production is about to arrive in Ireland , for a run at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre as part of Dublin Dance Festival . Earlier in the tour, during an almost sold-out run at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, the audience ranges from children to pensioners, some quite familiar with ballet and others seeing it for the first time. 'It's an incredible thing that's happened with the show, because it started off being dubbed as controversial, with all those famous quotes of 'ruffling feathers in the ballet',' Bourne says, on the phone from an opening in New York, 'but actually it was quite welcomed in many ways by the ballet establishment. There were only a few diehards that had a problem with it. READ MORE 'The idea of two men dancing together 30 years ago did result in some people walking out, because it wasn't what they were expecting, like young mothers with their daughters who thought they were coming to a traditional Swan Lake. It had an air of controversy about it, but now it's been embraced by the public as almost like a family show. People bring their kids to it at Christmas.' That effect will have been intensified by the centrality of Bourne's production to the plot of Billy Elliot, Stephen Daldry's hit film from 2000. The traditional version of Swan Lake was premiered by the Bolshoi Ballet, in Russia, in 1877, featuring a prince who becomes enchanted by the swan Odette as she draws him into her lakeside world. After declaring his undying devotion, the prince is tricked into falling for Odette's Doppelgänger, the black swan Odile, calling into question the idea of true love. The ballet has persevered through centuries, in large part because of Tchaikovsky's beloved music but also because of the ballet's themes and vignettes. The Dance of the Cygnets, for instance, has become an integral part of the dance lexicon. Boldly, in his rendition Bourne throws out many of the original conventions, yet he does so with such deftness and reverence to classical ballet that one wonders how any other choreographer could possibly reimagine it with equal skill. Bourne focuses on the prince, whose royal family belittles him so much that he is driven towards insanity, and as his tumultuous inner world unravels the male swans take centre stage. Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. Photograph: Johan Persson In the reimagined version of the show, to mark its 30th anniversary, the swans are even more powerfully masculine, with leaps that take them nearly shoulder-height off the floor. The prince encounters these birds in a park, having fled the palace during a moment of despair, and becomes transformed, discovering another part of himself. The second half of this Swan Lake features the lead swan making an electrifying transformation into head-to-toe black, seducing everyone – including the queen – at a palace ball. As the dramatic evening unfolds, the black swan titillates the willing guests until his allure drives the prince mad, literally. The rest of the narrative overflows with iconic scenes. In a nightclub, silhouetted dancers entice the prince to let loose with his bombshell girlfriend. In another witty tableau, costumed woodsmen and fairies perform a clever ballet within a ballet for the narcissistic queen. Bourne's humour and nod to current events strike an ideal balance between drama and dance technique. His style has inspired many young dancers to want to join his company. Matthew Bourne: 'Swan Lake is a sort of a dream piece for a lot of people to be in.' Photograph: Jeff Spicer/Getty 'I know what an effect Swan Lake has had on the next generation,' Bourne says, noting that many current members of the company had not been born when he first created it, in 1995. 'It has become this opportunity for a lot of young people to get involved in dance, particularly the men, who find it very inspiring from when they were young. It is a sort of a dream piece for a lot of people to be in.' Stephen Murray , a lead dancer performing the role of the prince, grew up in Lucan, in Co Dublin; as a boy he dreamed of a career in musical theatre. After attending classes at Westside Performing Arts and then joining Irish National Youth Ballet and the Dublin-based College of Dance , he headed to the UK, where his career took off. He has been with Bourne's company since 2016. 'When I first came here I don't think I was as confident as I am now,' Murray says. 'Matthew really coached me and gave me a lot of good advice, like how to place yourself within a scene. Working with him, you just listen and take it all in.' Stephen Murray: 'It's a very, very emotional role.' Photograph: Johan Persson Since founding his company Adventures in Motion Pictures, in 1987 – it became New Adventures in 2000 – Bourne has become synonymous with successful, large-scale productions. Swan Lake has toured multiple times around the UK, Europe, the United States and Asia. In its first year alone the show earned an Olivier Award for best new dance production and Tony Award for best choreography. Bourne has since received honorary doctorates, Critics Circle awards and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award for outstanding services to the art of ballet. Alongside the success of Swan Lake, he has been able to sell out theatres with his other shows, such as Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Edward Scissorhands and Romeo and Juliet. Bourne also spends time in the studio creating and revamping new works, joining the company on the road whenever possible. 'Almost every day I wake up and think, 'How am I going to sell tickets today?' There aren't many directors or choreographers who think like that, I can tell you,' Bourne says. 'I'm conscious of how to reinvent the shows, and each time we do them we change our publicity and we rethink our logos. We don't just post the same thing again and again. We make it feel fresh. 'I sometimes think when things are funded to a great level [by the English Arts Council], there is less emphasis on, 'Are we actually serving the audience?' For me it's not about the money necessarily, but it's about selling a show. I really am very conscious of that.' Jackson Fisch as the Swan and Stephen Murray as the Prince. Photograph: Johan Persson Bourne's penchant for putting on shows dates back to his childhood, in London, where his parents took him to the theatre from an early age. Neither of his parents was involved in the theatre, but they exposed him to it, adding to his already burgeoning interest in film. Soon he was re-creating his own performances for the neighbours, offering tea and biscuits with the price of a ticket. Fast-forward through studying dance at London's prestigious Laban Centre – beginning his training at the relatively late age of 22 – and Bourne had found his calling. Support early on in his career came from Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of shows such as Phantom of the Opera and Cats. The two since have collaborated on West End and Broadway productions of Mary Poppins and Oliver! Their latest is Old Friends, an adaptation of Stephen Sondheim songs, starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. I have a lot of family who would never be able to make it overseas to see me. Being in Dublin, it's not a far journey away. Even close friends from school who have never seen me dance before, this will be the first time. So I'm really excited — Jade Copas 'The thing I will say that's most important to me is having a company,' says Bourne, who at 65 maintains the energy and drive of someone who is only getting started. 'It's the thing that grounds me, weirdly. Knowing that there's that continuity. It's a privilege to be able to do the work you want to do, because I know a lot of people who have to wait to be asked all the time. I can decide to do whatever it is and do it. So that is really such a privilege, not being pulled in lots of odd directions.' In Edinburgh, as the dancers prepare for Swan Lake, a sense of camaraderie spills from the dressingrooms into the stage wings, where the cast members must make multiple quick changes between the ballet's three acts. Rows of mirrors and make-up bags hang from the backstage curtain to allow for the quick application of the signature black stroke on each swan's forehead, as well as for its fast removal, for changes in character. The female ensemble dancers must also set up their prop stations carefully, complete with everything from masks to gloves and wigs. 'As the ensemble, we add the context to some of the scenes,' says Jade Copas , a dancer from Banbridge, Co Down, who joined New Adventures in 2021. 'We have our little hats and our aprons, as you see. The quickest change in the whole show happens where we run backstage, unpin our hats, put a new hat on, take our apron off and put our aprons in a little pocket. There we have a pair of gloves. We put the gloves on, someone puts pearls on our necks and then we're running to the wings and entering. That happens in the space of 20 seconds, maybe.' Swan Lake: Co Down dancer Jade Copas (second right) with Carla Contini, Molly Shaw-Downie, Anna-Maria de Freitas and Christina Walters. Photograph: Johan Persson If the backstage action challenges the ensemble dancers, the postperformance regroup can be the toughest part when dancing one of the leads, according to Murray. 'The challenge for me is definitely in this role,' he says. 'It's a very, very emotional role. We always talk about how hard the show is, like physically, but I do think with the prince, after the show, it still kind of stays with you for a bit, because you're emotionally drained. I'd say out of everything, that's the hardest thing. To leave it behind. Leaving it on the stage is a big challenge.' Murray and Copas look forward to performing to a home audience in Dublin. 'It's so special for me and also for my family,' Copas says. 'I think because my mum and dad are so supportive, they're able to fly anywhere I am and watch me in my shows. I'm so grateful for their support, always. But I have a lot of family who would never be able to make it overseas to see me. Being in Dublin, it's not a far journey away. Even close friends from school who have never seen me dance before, this will be the first time. So I'm really excited.' This will not be the first time Dublin audiences see Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake – it made its debut in the city in 2014 and returned in 2019 – yet this production has metamorphosised to change with the times. In addition to the swans' increased fervour, and a black swan with a less overtly Russian influence, it features new costumes and more streamlined sets. Regardless of these shifting details, the compelling storyline remains constant. 'Everything that happened back then with Swan Lake was pretty unexpected and unheard of and not predicted by us, certainly,' Bourne says. 'But there are other pieces I have interpreted, like Cinderella, that has my sort of family history in it, like the second World War Blitz, with my parents and grandparents, so that's a more personal kind of reason for doing that piece. 'Some dances I'm proud of because I managed to make them happen, like Sleeping Beauty. It's such a big thing to take on that sort of classic story. You're also dealing with incredibly famous music. It can be quite tough to say, 'Well, look at this version, it's different.' So I'm proud of those things. 'But Swan Lake will always be very special, because of what it's done for us and also what it continues to do.' Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake: The Next Generation is at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre , as part of Dublin Dance Festival , from Tuesday, May 20th, until Saturday, May 24th
