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A magical adaptation of the classic Tim Burton motion picture – EDWARD SCISSORHANDS.
A treat for all the family, this touching and witty gothic fairytale tells the story of a boy created by an eccentric inventor who dies leaving him alone and unfinished. Left with only scissors for hands, Edward must find his place in a strange new suburban world where the well-meaning community struggle to see past his appearance to the innocence and gentleness within
MATTHEW BOURNE talks about his production of EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands is a hugely original gothic fairy story that is simple and universal enough to be told through music and movement alone. Both touching and funny, it has moments that will thrill the kids and others that will have adults in stitches and maybe even reaching for a hanky or two! If you’ve seen my recent work such as the adaptations of Swan Lake and Nutcracker!, you’ll recognise the witty and imaginative approach I always strive for.
When I first saw the film, I was immediately struck by two things. Firstly the beautiful, achingly romantic score by Danny Elfman which is the backbone of our stage version (along with newly composed music and arrangements by the brilliant Terry Davies). Secondly, the title character originally created by Johnny Depp. Edward is the ultimate "outsider" expressing himself through movement rather than words with much of his appeal being physical and emotional. He is not unlike a silent movie actor and this lends itself beautifully to our unique approach.
The characters and the visual landscape are also a gift for both myself and our designer Lez Brotherston. We have the creepy mansion, the graveyard, snow storms, the colourful suburbia of Hope Springs and of course Edward’s topiary and ice sculpture creations. The costumes too are incredible - from Edward’s ‘scissorhands’ to the sculpted bouffant hairdos of the female townsfolk. We’ll also be packing in a few surprises and I firmly believe that I have assembled some of the finest actor/dancers in the UK to realise this wonderful story.
Tim Burton, Danny Elfman and screenwriter Caroline Thompson have been fantastically generous in allowing us to take this highly personal creation and make it our own. Turning a cinematic masterpiece into a memorable theatrical experience has been a great challenge and the story we tell on stage is full of suprises, even for those that know the film well!
Since opening the production last year UK audiences have taken Edward to their hearts. This truly is a show for all the family and I have been particularly thrilled to have attracted that elusive teenage audience into the theatre. Edward reminds us all of a time in our lives when we felt “different” and how we treat people around us who are not the same as us. Even though the production is spectacular, outrageously funny and touchingly romantic, its simple message of tolerance and looking beneath the surface seems particularly important in 2006
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